Disclaimers: My characters, my story.

This is my first attempt. Hope you enjoy the story.  Thanks to the Queen Dragon and her Dragonnettes for their encouragement. Also for putting up the challenge.

And the story begins…

The silence pervading the four walls in her bedroom seem to mock her…reminding her of that night when she threw Carinna out of her life…forever.

Four years. Has it been that long? Then how come it seems so fresh?  It had been her pride. Her stupid, materialistic pride that left a wound so deep she had turned to her work with such intensity and determination that within that time period of separation from Carinna, she had risen to become the Chairman of the Board of one of the most prestigious computer companies in Ontario.

And tonight, she was remembering it only too well. As she had stared inside the window of her soul, she once again saw the tears in Carinna’s eyes. She saw the pain, the anguish and the disbelief that it was over between them. Yet, in her own selfish way, she could not feel pity or remorse toward Carinna. Her mind was set. She could not have Carinna in her life. Carinna was her opposite. She did not possess the traits and characteristics of the woman she wants to be with her in life. While Carinna was selfless and cared for people, she did not have the time to spare anyone who was in need.

“It is over…tonight, you shamed me in front of my friends. Tonight you shamed me with that silly stupid gown you wore.  Tonight you shamed me with your unsocial graces.  I cannot have that anymore, Carinna. As beautiful and loving as you are, we cannot be together anymore. Not if I am destined to be a successful woman, I am sorry. You can have this condominium as a present as I know you cannot afford to get a decent place on your salary. I will not be here at all the coming week, so tomorrow I will have all my clothes packed and ready to go when I come back.”

With those parting words she headed towards the hallway into their bedroom. Closing the door, she released a deep sigh and began to undress. After changing into her favorite blue pajamas Augusta went to bed and with little to drink at the party, she fell asleep immediately.

Being a light sleeper, Augusta awakened to a sound likened to a door opening and closing. “Nah, I know I locked the door and turned the alarm on. Must be Chase again.”
 

Turning on her back she once again fell asleep immediately.

It was only when she went to the kitchen that she realized that the usual smell of brewing coffee was not present. Feeling a little guilty of what transpired the night before, she walked into their guest bedroom only to find that it was not slept on. On top of the pillow she found a note that read…

“My dearest,

I thank you for your generosity in offering me the use of the condo. As much as I would like to stay, I have to decline such a generous offer. As you and I both know you bought this with your money and so therefore, it is yours alone. I am not taking anything with me except my clothes and our beautiful memories. You take care of yourself and know that my heart belongs to you. I loved you then and I love you more now.

Carinna

Carinna let a small sigh escape her lips as she looked at the crowd waiting for their turn to be served. She had not stopped her Saturday volunteer work at the soup kitchen, which began three years before she met Augusta. At St. Patrick’s Soup Kitchen she found comfort in helping out the more needy people. She had even developed a fellowship with some of the street people who frequented the soup kitchen.

Moving her eyes away from them, she noticed a young woman standing just outside the door waiting for her turn to get in. The young woman was staring at the now wet floor. It has been snowing heavily and the people coming in brought the wet snow inside making the old and well-worn carpet look worse than ever. The crowd inched their way forward to the women behind the counter ladling their food unto the trays they picked up by the entrance. Carinna noted the young woman’s thin coat and tattered jeans. Taking pity, she walked towards the woman and as she stood a foot away from the woman whispered “come with me.”

The young woman, startled, looked up and said “where?  Why?”

“I have an extra coat which is now too small for me. It is hanging up in the kitchen. You can change into it. It would be much warmer than the one you have on. Would you like to try it on?” she asked.

Carinna led the young woman inside the kitchen and picking up the coat hanging by the side of the pantry handed it to her.

“Thank you. I appreciate this.”

“Hey, since you are already in the kitchen why don’t you sit down over there and have your meal here instead of waiting in line?”

“Oh, no, I can’t do that. It would not be right for me to get my food first instead of the people who were here before me,” came the polite reply.

“No one will notice. Besides, I supervise all the ladies we have behind the counter. They will not object at all.”

Carinna could not quite comprehend why she took a strong liking to this woman. It was not often that she felt an immediate reaction to people she met…especially after Augusta.

While the young woman ate Carinna busied herself in checking out trays, filling up almost empty trays and bringing them outside to the servers.

A couple of hours later, she was ready to leave. She had been busy helping out she did not notice the young woman leave. After making sure that all stoves, ovens, lights, doors and windows were shut off or securely closed she locked up. As she turned around to go to her parked car just outside the soup kitchen, she saw the young woman leaving the hostel next to the soup kitchen.

“Hey, wait up” Carinna called.

The young woman turned around, smiled and stopped.

“The hostel full tonight?” Carinna asked.

“Yes. They do not even have enough floor space where we are usually allowed to sleep” the young woman answered, her lip trembling.

“Oh…where will you go?” Carinna asked gently.

“I don’t know. Perhaps I could persuade ‘lil one’ to let me bunk with her tonight. She has this small space under the Don Mills Bridge. She usually lets me share her space.”

“Don Mills Bridge is a ways from here. Must be at least a couple of kilometers north of here. Why don’t you come with me and let us see what we can do for you?” As Carinna is Carinna, she would save a drowning kitten without regard for her own life.

A grateful look in the woman’s eyes belied her words. “I cannot take any more kindness from you. You have already given me food, a coat and now you are going to find me a place for the night. You are very generous and kind but I do not have anything to give back.” The words were soft and sincerely said.

“No imposition at all. I want to do it”. Taking the young woman’s hand she led the way to her car.

No words were spoken between them until Carinna parked the car behind the apartment building. Opening the door to her apartment, the young woman’s eyes opened wide and exclaimed, “this is fantastic!” She felt like she was walking into a dream world.

Carinna’s apartment was small but it was neat and tidy as well as a feeling of serenity and comfort. Carinna smiled gently at the young woman’s words.

“You can sleep on the couch. It is old but quite comfortable. I myself have had a few good nights sleep there. You might want to take a shower first before turning in. I’ll find you some things to wear. The bathroom is just down that hallway, first right” Carinna said.

The young woman turned around and proceeded to the bathroom. When all her necessities were taken care of, she stepped out of the tub feeling so very clean and presentable. She found a pair of old pajamas neatly folded on the counter. Assuming it was the clothes that Carinna had promised, she put them on. Feeling somewhat lost in the big pajamas she chuckled and went to the living room to find Carinna holding two mugs of chocolate. One was handed to her.

“Your apartment is very nice.”

“I like it here. It is small but it is mine” Carinna said softly. She stared at the young woman’s face. Her eyes had an intense color of blue and her short black hair, although not as dark, cruelly reminded her of the woman she once knew. But the similarities stopped there.

“Can you tell me your name? Mine is Carinna Trevorson and I work at Glover and Patters”.

“Justine…Justine Reed” came the reply.

“Listen, Justine, I am going to bed. If you are interested in watching TV please do so. The remote is right there” pointing to the coffee table. “I left a blanket and some sheets on the sofa for you.”

“Thank you. Goodnight” Came the reply.

Carinna awoke to the smell of fresh coffee, bacon and toast.  Putting her robe on, she went to the kitchen and saw Justine already dressed looking like she was ready to leave.

“Uh…I made some breakfast. I do hope it does not upset you. I thought you might want some when you got up. I should be on my way in a few minutes and I wanted to thank you once again before I leave,” Justine said.

“Where are you going? Why don’t you stay here for a few days longer and leave when the weather turns a bit better?”  Carinna asked. In truth, Carinna had played with an idea during the night before she went to bed. She wanted to give Justine a chance to right her life and thought to offer a warm place to the young woman until she was ready to go on her own.

“I can’t…but please do not think I am being ungrateful. You are the very first person in my life who has offered me such kindness. I cannot repay that. I can only be thankful,” was the reply.

“Nonsense. Of course you can stay. You have no place to go and besides, I can use company. It would be nice to have someone to talk to every now and then. I really would like for you to stay.”

Justine had no more excuses. She gratefully took the offer and they sat down to share the breakfast that she had prepared.

After washing the dishes Carinna had an idea.

“It is Sunday and since both of us have nothing to do, why don’t we pick up the rest of your clothes and get some groceries?” she suggested.

“Uh…umm….I…this is all I have,” Justine said hesitatingly.  “Besides I do not have any money at all.”

“No problem. We can go to “Seconds” and pick up some used clothing. They really have good second hand clothes there,” without waiting for an answer Carinna grabbed their coats and pushed Justine out the door.

After Carinna paid for all their purchases Justine once again said, “I do not know when I can pay you for these but I will pay you one day, I promise.”

“Justine, I repeat, pay me when you find yourself a job, have saved some money and when you are ready to go on your own.  Other than that, I do not expect you to worry about anything at all, at least, not now. Now, let us go to Bargain Country and get you some new underwear.” Carinna giggled when she saw the look on Justine’s face.

“I do not smell like fish, I hope,” was Justine’s only reply.

A few weeks passed and gradually the two young women fell into some level of comfort with one another. Justine had been out most of the time looking for a job while Carinna continued on with her work at Glovers and Potters. Ironic sometimes how life turns out. After she had left Augusta that fateful August night, she had found herself determined to work herself out of the clerical position she held at Glovers. With her determination to succeed and to keep the promise she made to herself the night she left Carinna slowly but surely made it to the managerial level. She was now an Investor Relations Coordinator with bigger pay, her own office and a junior secretary of her own.

The weeks turned to months and one Saturday, as she was quietly sipping her coffee and reading the Toronto Star in the patio, an exuberant, yelling Justine burst in from the front door, screaming… “I got a job…I got a job…I got a job…”
Finding Carinna in the patio, she pulled her and wrapped her arms around her…”I got a job…I got a job…” she continued on, prancing around the patio still holding Carinna.

“I told you so. I am really happy for you. Now go get dressed and let us celebrate. We’ll have dinner at the ‘Buffet Queen’, my treat.”

The drive to the restaurant was quiet as each woman lost in her own thoughts.

‘Justine has not said a word about her family. I wonder why she has not mentioned anything about them.’ Respecting her privacy and space, Carinna has not questioned Justine about it. ‘She will tell me when she is ready, I know.’

Once seated inside, Carinna said “now tell me about this job.”

“I am really happy you lent me the money to pay for that typing course. I got a job at Summer Publications. They hired me today as a junior typist and I am going to start on Monday,” Justine replied, her words gushing out so fast Carinna did not catch a word or two but understood what she said.

The two young women who had become best friends over the last few months ate, laughed and enjoyed each other’s company.

Once finished they left the restaurant and crossed the street to where Carinna’s car was parked. It was still a little early in the night and as they were crossing the street, a silver-gray Subaru Outback went screeching behind them and hit the light post. Running towards the car Carinna quickly handed her purse to Justine and cried “call 911.”

The woman inside the car was unconscious, a thin streak of blood pouring out behind her left ear. Carinna tried to open the driver’s door but it wouldn’t budge. With the fear of the car bursting into flames, she ran to the other side and to her relief, she door opened. Knowing she wouldn’t be able to get the woman out from the passenger side she reached to the rear passenger door, climbed in scooting in behind the driver’s side and from there reached for the handle on the driver’s side. After managing to unlock the driver’s door she once again got out and ran to the driver’s side. Able to now open the door she took a deep breath, unlocked the seatbelt and gently pulled the woman out.

Still not looking at the woman’s face she pulled her scarf which was tucked inside the left sleeve of her jacket and tried to stop the bleeding. Once she had applied the pressure, she lifted the woman’s hair out of her face and she gasped… “Augusta…” Trembling, she pulled the woman towards her, tears streaming down her face. “I wanted to see you again…Only God knows how much…but not this way…not this way.”

Carinna was so beside herself that she did not hear the siren of the ambulance but did she hear Justine’s grief-stricken utter “Auggie!”

“Ma’am,” she heard while a hand touched her shoulder, “you have to move. We need to check her vitals.”

“You know her?” Carinna and Justine asked one another simultaneously.

“Yes, she is my sister,” replied Justine.

“She is the woman I told you about,” Corinna said sobbing.

“My sister was your lover…I don’t know what to say. This is all too much to learn in one night,” was the reply.

They were interrupted by the paramedic, “Ma’am, we have to take her to the hospital. We have stopped the bleeding but her breathing is not too good. She has to be admitted.”

Turning her head towards the voice Carinna meekly said “Yes, please do. Which hospital are you taking her? We would like to follow you.”

“The Pierre McKenzie Hospital on University Avenue. We have already advised them.”

The two women proceeded to their car and followed the ambulance, the siren loudly blaring in the silence of the night.

Augusta opened her eyes blinking at the streaming light coming from the east window. She was surprised to see a woman asleep on the sofa, her arm thrown across her face, next to the window. Augusta groaned as a searing pain in her head made itself known as she tried to sit up, awaking the woman. Augusta blinked several times before she uttered… “Carinna.”

Carinna walked over to the side of the bed saying, “careful, you still have your IV attached.”

“What happened? What are you doing here? Which hospital is this? I want to know,” Augusta whispered.

“You had an accident. Your car is totaled. Your insurance will let us know in a couple of days why your brakes failed.”

“I don’t care about the car. I want to know why you are here.  Did you hit my car to get even with me after what happened between us?”

Despite her admitted knowledge that she, herself, was the cause of their breakup, Augusta wanted to justify herself by denial. Over the years they had been separated, Augusta had been alone. Although she had a few one night stands her heart never stopped loving Carinna. She wanted to admit defeat but did not know how. She just couldn’t forget Carinna, her laughter, her kindness, her gentle manners. Her heart ached for her but her pride was just too much. The last year had just been too cruel and her once proud, arrogant self. Because of regret that slowly crept into her very soul, she had changed. She slowly but painfully came to terms with her problems. Admitting she was not easy to get along with and with the help of her psychologist, she became the woman she had wanted to be. Kind and generous, gentle but firm.

“You had an accident. Your car nearly missed us but you hit the light post in front of the Buffet Queen restaurant,” Carinna replied.

“Us?”

“Yes…us.” A voice coming from the door answered.

“My Good Lord, Justine, my sweet, sweet, sister!” Augusta cried out.

Justine, tears running down her cheeks, ran towards Augusta.  Augusta opened her arms and Justine hugged her so tight she winced.

“Please tell me how you two came to know one another,” Augusta requested.

“We live together in Carinna’s house, Augusta. We have been together since the beginning of winter.”

“You live together?” Augusta asked, her voice cracking.

Carinna and Justine smiled at one another and simultaneously they replied. “Not the way you are thinking. We are roommates, best friends, that’s all.”

Two days later the doctor told Augusta that she was going to be released from the hospital. The doctor asked if she had anyone staying with her since she would need help for at least for another week or so. Because of the wound she had behind her ear, he wanted to be assured that she would not be alone in case she needed physical help. It was then that Carinna offered to stay with her until such time that she would be able to go back to work. Her secretary had been advised of her condition. Funny how the once much disliked woman had received so many flowers during her stay at the hospital that the nurses were asked to give a few to the other patients or simply take them home.

Despite Augusta’s refusal for Carinna to stay with her, Carinna arranged for a two-week vacation that was easily granted to her. Carinna had put in so many hours of overtime work that was yet to be paid that her boss had, without problems, approved her unscheduled vacation.

During the first week of their unexpected reunion not one word about their separation was spoken between the two women. Justine remained at Carinna’s apartment while coming by Augusta’s condo after work. They spent a few hours talking of the past, of how Justine ended up on the streets. One night Justine, during a heart deep conversation with her sister, asked if she still loved Carinna.

Nodding her head Augusta softly replied, “with all my heart. I never stopped loving her. But I was proud. I threw her out. I convinced myself that wealth and appearances were worth the love I was throwing out. I was very wrong. Now that I know, nothing is worth all the pain she and I went through. I do not know what to do. Her presence in this house makes me so ashamed of myself, of the person I was. I love her very much, Justine. Help me.”

“Tell her now. Tell her how sorry you are. Beg her for forgiveness,” replied Justine.

“I can’t.”

“Yes you can. Tell her now. She is standing here behind you.”

Augusta turned around and found Carinna, arms wide open waiting for her embrace.

She walked softly to Carinna and without hesitation, lowered her face towards the waiting lips. Tears streaming down their faces, they clung to each other.

“I am so sorry. I am so sorry.  Please forgive me,” sobbed Augusta.

*********

Augusta came home early one day to prepare something very special for this very special day. It had been a year since that fateful day. While she was preparing dinner for her family, a happy grin plastered on her face, Augusta finally realized, ‘Carinna and Justine…my family… home…I am home…We have a home.’