The Wedding
Nikkie Silk
Part One
Trust me when I tell you I don't normally check the wedding
announcements. I hate weddings. Ever since I was a page boy at my aunt's
wedding, when my mother made me wear a pale blue tuxedo. I was six, for
God's sake. She said I looked so cute.
Aunts and Uncles oohed and aahed at me as I walked down the aisle with
the rings on a little satin pillow, but I hated it. You see, what I
really wanted to be was one of the bridesmaids in their gorgeous frothy,
frilly pink dresses. Even at that tender age I knew that I would rather
be a girl than a boy.
There I've said it. It has taken me fifteen years, several therapists
and a lot of heartache, before I could finally say that without
flinching. My early years were spent wondering why girls got all the
nice things to wear; dresses, blouses, skirts, pretty shoes and hair
ribbons, whilst I was imprisoned in scratchy underpants, trousers and
jumpers. When I asked my mother, she laughed and said that it was just
the way things were. Back then my name was Samuel, but I always
preferred to be called Sammy, and that's the name that stuck.
I have two sisters, one four years older than me and the other two years
older. All our birthdays fell in the same month of the year, so I swore
our parents had a calendar date to have sex every two years. However,
when I was eight, our father left us for a woman he met at his bridge
club. So, I was surrounded by females from that age onwards. My sisters,
of course, enjoyed all their pretty clothes although the younger
inevitably had to deal with hand-me-downs from her older sister. How I
wished they could have been handed down to me.
We weren't poor, but money was tight. At some point my father stopped
paying support and my mother had to find a job. Our grandmother helped
for a while by sitting with us, but she developed dementia and had to go
into a home. Mother was still an attractive woman, and I think dated a
few times, but as soon as the men found out about the three children
they didn't hang around long. Both my sisters took after our mother and
turned out to be very pretty girls. My eldest sister, Caroline, was the
prettiest, but Sophie wasn't far behind. Mother used to joke that she
had to beat the boys away from them with a stick.
She didn't use a big enough stick for Caroline, who got herself pregnant
when she was seventeen. Actually, that's a strange phrase; surely
nobody
gets themselves pregnant. The father, a twenty year old student from
Serbia, disappeared immediately and nobody knew where to find him.
Anyway, by some freak of genetics, I also have my mother's looks. I was
small and slender as a child and everybody said that I would get a
growth spurt sometime and would shoot up later on. Well, the promised
growth spurt never happened, and I have stayed small and slender ever
since.
I have the family blonde hair and as a teenager I let it grow long, down
to below my shoulders and resisted my mother's pleas to get it cut. I
loved my hair, still do, and would sit in front of the mirror styling it
into as many feminine styles as I could. There wasn't another boy in
our
town who knew as much about hair styles as I did. My sister Sophie
wanted to be a hairdresser, and she used me as a model, not only
eventually cutting my hair, but helping me to style it. She was the one
closest to me, and we would sit together and read her magazines and talk
about the different looks and what would suit her and me. I asked her
recently if she thought it unusual and she said no, it was just me being
me.
I had also inherited my features from my mother to the extent that I
would sometimes mistaken for a girl. In one photograph I have, the three
of us look like sisters; the same toothy smile, blonde hair, freckles,
and turned-up noses. It is one of my favourite pictures, and for so long
I wished it could have been true. All through my teenage years I became
convinced that I should have been a girl. I tried to tell my mother,
but
she yelled at me that I was a boy and that was that. I had to accept
that God had made me a boy and the work of God couldn't be changed. It
would be blasphemy to challenge the will of God.
Oh, yes, about this time she had found God. Not the kind of namby-pamby
God who spreads love and understanding and happiness, but an Old
Testament God whom you had to kneel before and tremble in awe. So, no
help there then. When I persisted she dragged me to see the Minister
from her church who tried to cure me by laying on hands. He began by
putting one hand on my head and one on my shoulder and wailing about the
sins of the flesh and the weakness of the spirit.
It began to get strange when the hand on my shoulder dropped to my waist
and then onto my leg, all the time giving it big about invoking God to
cure me of my base addiction. His hand began to creep further up my leg
and his fingers brushed my cock. I jumped, and he took his hands away
quickly and glared at me. You must let me do God's business if you wish
to be saved, he said. Frankly, I thought it was no business of God to be
touching my cock and I told the dirty old goat so. He declared me
wicked
and a sinner and he would tell my mother that I had tried to seduce him
with my sinful ways if I mentioned a word of what had gone on.
Knowing my mother would scarcely believe me over the word of God, I
never told her anything about it. She kept on trying to cure me, and
took me to several so-called therapists, some of whom were pretty
bizarre. The more she tried to get more to accept I was a boy, the more
I dug my heels in that I wanted to be a girl. I borrowed a few of
Sophie's clothes that she didn't use any more and I would dress up in
them whenever I could. She later told me that she suspected it, but she
felt it was my business not hers. I tried on makeup and pretended to be
a girl whenever I could.
School became a nightmare for me. I never settled in any one of them and
because of my size and my feminine looks I would be constantly bullied,
mentally as well as physically. I would inevitably be picked on by
boys,
and some girls too, for being a fairy or a queer. People told me to
fight back, but I wasn't strong or brave, and I would end up yet again
on the end of a beating. The teachers were useless; they didn't seem to
care and would turn the other way whenever trouble broke out. I drifted
into taking drugs to ease the pain and loneliness and eventually got
expelled from school for the last time.
What saved me, strangely enough, was a new boyfriend of Sophie's. It
seems that the females in our family have the worst taste in men
possible. Caroline had her baby, a lovely little girl called Naomi, but
then she hooked up with a string of losers who got what they wanted from
her and then moved on. Sophie, my favourite, fared little better. She
seemed to attract what used to be called bad boys. She got beaten up a
couple of times, but always found another one who would treat her like
dirt. But, one night she came back to the house with a new boyfriend.
Marcus was different from all her previous boyfriends for the simple
reasons that he was big and black.
Our mother had a fit, of course. She wasn't overtly racist, but the
thought of her daughter going out with a black boy was enough to send
her off to her minister in high dudgeon. For that reason alone I already
liked him. He seemed a nice guy, always said Hi to me and was
respectful
to Sophie as well, which again gave him a high score for me. One evening
he came round to meet Sophie, but she had been held up at college.
Mother had gone out to the church and Caroline was out somewhere too. I
was looking after Naomi, happily gurgling away in her playpen.
Marcus asked if he might wait for Sophie indoors, and I said sure, come
on in. I had on what I liked to call my lite girl mode; tight jeans,
flat ballet pumps, and a crop top that showed plenty of my belly. I had
my hair in a girl style ponytail, and I had dared to put on some lip
gloss as I thought I would be on my own for this evening. I had a baggy
t-shirt ready to slip on if my mother appeared unexpectedly. Sophie had
seen me like this before and so had Marcus a couple of times.
I made him a coffee, and he sat down with me as I watched Naomi in her
playpen. He didn't seem put out by the way I looked and we chatted about
this and that. He came across as a nice guy and it was a pleasant
change
to spend time with someone who listened as much as he talked. He liked
music and politics and art, and we talked about bands and how we thought
the government was fucking everything up. He asked me my opinion of
things, something that didn't happen a lot to me. He listened to what I
had to say and didn't tell me I was wrong or stupid. He studied at night
school for a Degree in community relations and we discussed how the
police could do more to help minorities. Sophie eventually arrived an
hour late full of apologies. She had forgotten that there had been a
lecture that she had to go to.
As they left, Marcus said it had been good talking to me and he hoped we
could talk some more soon. Sophie gave me a funny look, and I heard her
ask him why did he say that as they walked down the corridor. I heard
him laugh and tell her that he thought I was cool and he liked talking
to me.
Marcus became a regular visitor to the house and even mother began to
relent, admitting that he was far nicer than the boys Sophie usually
went out with. Caroline was now out nearly every night and paid me a
little to babysit Naomi. I didn't mind too much. I didn't have too many
friends, and she had become a lovely little girl, peaceful and serene.
Where that came from I have no idea, but I adored her. I overheard
Sophie tell Marcus that I was more of a mother to Naomi than Caroline
would ever be. It made me feel funny inside, but I liked it as well.
Marcus and I talked whenever we got the chance, and I began to look
forward to his visits. I have to admit that I took a little more care
with the way I looked when I knew he would be coming round. Mother spent
most of her time at the church these days and it gave me more time to
indulge my girl look. I worked in a department store during the day and
I could buy clothes and makeup with a staff discount. If everyone went
out and left me on my own, I would go all out and wear a dress or a
skirt and make myself up. My hair was never a problem as Sophie, doing a
beauty course, would get me cuts at a discount at the college. I found
I
could have a unisex cut which could also be styled in a feminine way. I
liked it in a girl type ponytail, high on the back of my head so I could
feel the hair flicking around behind me.
If I knew Marcus would be coming, I would tone it down, no dresses or
skirts but tight trousers and a loose top and some nice makeup. He never
seemed to be bothered by how I looked and his visits began to mean a
lot
to me. He respected what I had to say, even if he didn't always agree.
It felt good to have someone who I could talk to without being judged or
criticised. However, I was still popping pills at the time and once
when
Marcus came round waiting for Sophie, I let slip to him that I wanted
something to take the edge off.
It was the first time I had ever seen him angry. He shouted that simply
because someone is black doesn't mean he has to be a drug dealer. I
stared at him, totally stunned that I had upset him so badly. I didn't
want to lose him as a friend and I apologised to him over and over again
that I hadn't meant it like that and that I liked him and I would never
think that of him. I started to cry, and he seemed to calm down and put
his arm round me and said that he shouldn't have flown off like that.
It
was not me he was getting at, but the others who assumed every black guy
was a thug.
It felt strange but nice to have his arm round me as it didn't happen to
me that often, or ever really. We heard Sophie come in the front door
and Marcus quickly took his arm away and moved to another seat. He asked
me if we were cool now, and desperate to keep him as a friend, I said
yes.
Sophie came in and noticed I was wiping my eyes. She gave Marcus a funny
look, but said nothing. She told me the next day that they had a big
row
because she accused him of upsetting me. He denied it but she said I had
been crying. As Marcus didn't say anything, Sophie stormed out,
assuming
she was right. I told her that she had it completely wrong that it had
been my fault and I told her exactly what had happened. She shouted at
me for taking pills and then put her arms around me and hugged me as I
cried my eyes out on her shoulder.
She made up with Marcus and a couple of days later they both sat down
with me as I was looking after Naomi that night. Sophie asked me how
long had I been taking drugs and I told them both it was none of their
business. Marcus asked why I had started and I said again it was none of
their business. Marcus began to talk about how drugs are often a
reaction to other issues in your life and how you can't get off drugs
until you resolve those problems. He didn't shout or lecture me, spoke
quietly and calmly, and maybe because I was tired or needed to open up
to someone, I told them everything in the end. It all came pouring out,
the longing to be a girl, the loneliness, the isolation and the feeling
that nobody cared, and that there didn't seem to be a place for me
anywhere. I ended up crying by this time and so did Sophie, who came and
sat next to me and wrapped her arms around me. She kept saying how
sorry
she was and she hadn't realised it had all been so bad for me.
Marcus stayed quiet for a while and when Sophie and I had cried
ourselves out, he asked me in a soft voice if I had ever seen anyone
about how I felt, a doctor or a therapist. I shook my head. I couldn't
imagine going to see the old fool who was our family doctor about this.
To be honest, I couldn't imagine talking to anyone about this.
Marcus asked me if I had heard of gender dysphoria and I shook my head
again. He said that I wasn't alone and there were now ways to help
people like myself who feel trapped inside the wrong body. If I wanted,
he could ask some of the people he worked with if they knew a local
place that could help. He wouldn't mention any names, merely see if he
could find someone I could talk to. I nodded, thinking it would all come
to nothing, but at least someone was listening to me.
A few evenings later I was at home, and as everyone else had gone out, I
was in full femme mode; mini skirt, tight top, heels, makeup, and my
hair in a messy bun which I had just learnt how to do. I heard a knock
on the front door and I froze. I had always feared this moment; me on my
own in full girl gear and a stranger knocks on the door. I grabbed
Naomi, determined to defend her whatever happened. There was another
knock and then the letter box rattled, and I heard a voice shouting
through it. It was Marcus, shouting at me to let him in before the
neighbours called the police.
I heaved a sigh of relief and hurried down the hallway, took the chain
off the door and let him in. Only then did I remember what I was
wearing. I went bright scarlet as he walked in and I wanted to curl up
and die. He smiled at me and all he said was that the skirt looked
really good on me. I blushed furiously as he walked into the living room
and said hi to Naomi, who stuck her arms out to be picked up. Marcus
bent down to scoop her up In his arms and she started to giggle as he
tickled her. I told him Sophie was out with friends and he said he knew
but he wanted to talk to me.
He sat down with Naomi on his lap and passed me a piece of paper. He
had done some asking around and he'd found two things that I might be
interested in. He had to pause as Naomi stuck her fingers in his mouth.
He grimaced as he found out she still had some of her dinner on them. I
said it was only apple and pear; it was part of his five a day. He
laughed and went on. He said he had found an LGBT group that met
locally; it provided help and support for all kinds of people. The word
was they were a very good group. The second was a place which offered
counselling and advice for people with gender dysphoria. I wouldn't have
to see my doctor first, the telephone number was there if I wanted to
use it.
He said he had to go, but he hoped I would follow them both up. I took
Naomi from him and promised I would think seriously about it. I said
thank you to him; it was one of the nicest things that anyone had ever
done for me. On an impulse I stood on tiptoe and kissed him on his
cheek. He giggled like a kid and said he was only too pleased to have
done something to help. I put Naomi in her playpen and walked him to the
door. As he went to open it, he turned and said, that when he had come
in tonight, he thought for a moment I was Sophie, and that we could
almost be sisters. I blushed once more, and he bent down gave me a kiss
on the cheek and disappeared.
I didn't know it, but it would be the last time I would see him for five
years.
Part Two
A few days after Marcus left the house, Sophie sat me down and told me
she and Marcus had split up, and he wouldn't be coming round any more. I
sat there numbly listening to what she said. One of the few people who
had ever tried to understand me had gone. Blinded by my anger, I blamed
Sophie for sending away my friend. Whatever had happened was her fault,
and she had to fix it. She said she couldn't; it was over, and I told
her I hated her for it. My only concern was me, me, me. It hurt me so
much and I will never forget the pain I felt at what I thought had been
Sophie's betrayal. We've made up now, but looking back I was such a
selfish little bitch.
A few days later I came back from work and found an envelope addressed
to me lying on the doormat. It had no stamp so must have been hand
delivered. Naomi wanted a cuddle so, with her on my lap I opened the
envelope. It turned out to be a handwritten letter from Marcus. For a
moment my heart leapt; he was coming back, he and Sophie had made up and
he could come and see me. Of course, it didn't say that at all. It said
he was sorry he couldn't see me any more. He had enjoyed talking with
me
and he would miss that. He wanted me to know he would always think of me
and he hoped I would follow up the places he had found to help me do
what I wanted.
I read the letter twice and hugged Naomi so hard she squealed. Tears
began to flow, and I sobbed my heart out. Naomi looked up at me with her
beautiful big eyes and started to cry as well. That made me stop, and I
dried my eyes and hers, folded the letter up and put it in my wallet. I
have it in front of me now as I write this. It's been folded and
unfolded so many times over the intervening years it's in danger of
falling apart. It's with me constantly.
It sounds melodramatic, but I think Marcus and Naomi saved my life. When
I look back on it, if he had not pointed me to those two places, things
may have turned out very differently. I can see now that without the
help I got back then, my life was a car wreck waiting to happen. If I
hadn't got help and support, I might not have made it. Too many people I
knew have crashed and burned along the way before they could achieve
their dreams.
Naomi's simple and unconditional love helped me realise life is not all
about me. She isn't my child, but she gave me a reason to keep going.
She kept me steady when I could have cracked wide open. She helped me
find the strength to change my life. As I read to Naomi from Cinderella,
her favourite story, I swore to myself I would become the girl I wanted
to be.
I kicked the pills, joined the LGBT group and went to counselling.
Attending the group showed me I was not alone, there were many others
who felt as I did. I no longer felt on my own, and they showed me there
was a place for me. I met people there who remain my closest friends.
The counselling provided me with a way to understand what I was going
through and gave me a path to follow.
I did eventually talk to my doctor who referred me to a specialist who
in turn started me on hormones. It wasn't all plain sailing, my mother
refused to accept what I wanted to do, but could do little to stop me.
She became a sullen reminder of the ignorance and prejudice that still
exists, but at least let me stay in the house. What hurt most was that
she told people she had two daughters and a son. Sophie was my rock.
After we had made up following my outburst about Marcus, she was
incredibly supportive, often fighting my corner with our mother.
Caroline didn't seem to care so long as I could babysit Naomi for her.
Gradually and sometimes painfully it all came together. This isn't an
easy path to take, and there were some bad times, but I had begun a
journey that I so wanted to finish. It was sometimes two steps forward
and one back. I have been beaten up twice, been abused and insulted by
ignorant people who don't understand the anguish of someone in my
position. I have been called so many names over the years; tranny,
faggot, cocksucker, pervert, and a good few more, and trust me they all
hurt. I was sometimes tempted to go back to pills, but I stuck it out. I
began to live as a woman full time and met some friends who know about
me and support me. I even had a couple of boyfriends, but neither of
them stayed around for long.
Even so, I had lots and lots of sex. In the group I joined sex was a
commonplace. It was casual, and it didn't mean much emotionally; it
fulfilled a pleasurable need, and that was it. I learnt how to suck a
cock and found out I loved to be fucked. I was a natural bottom, and
although I tried it a couple of times, I didn't like fucking someone
else. I was happy to be the recipient of someone else's cock most of the
time. I even did a bit of escort work from time to time. Well, escort
work is the fancy name for it; I would suck men's cocks for money and
occasionally let someone I liked fuck me. I don't feel guilty about it;
it was a part of my life for a while, and it kept the wolf from the door
long enough for me to get myself sorted out.
I continued working at the department store, made supervisor and then
manager of the beauty hall of all places. Thanks to my genes and the
hormones I am able to pass without a problem, and people now often
mistake Sophie and I for sisters. It's taken five years and my biggest
decision remaining is when to go for SRS. I've put it off for a while,
and I know I must make my mind up soon. I learnt to live my life as a
woman quietly and happily by myself most of the time.
Ironically, after Marcus and another abusive relationship, Sophie gave
up on men, met a girl in a gay bar and is now happily living with her.
They started their own spa business which is doing well and she
occasionally gives me a freebie treatment. One day not long ago I was in
having a facial when she flopped down on a chair next to me looking
upset. I had just had the mask applied, so she waved a newspaper under
my nose and showed me a picture of a smiling couple. It took me a few
seconds to focus before I felt my heart lurch. One of the people in the
picture was Marcus, I would never forget that smile. I looked at Sophie
with as puzzled a look as I could manage wearing a facial mask, and she
waggled the paper under my nose. Look again, she said.
This time I looked at both of the people in the picture. Marcus had his
arm round another man, a white, nerdy looking guy with glasses, and my
eyes widened and my mouth dropped open as I read the picture caption.
'Mr Marcus Flood has announced that he will be marrying Mr Terence
Hancock at the Registrar's Office on 22 June.' I looked back at Sophie,
who gently closed my mouth with a finger beneath my chin. Come and see
me when you're finished, she said and vanished.
My mind was whirling as I sat back and thought about the picture. Sophie
had resisted every attempt over the years to get her to tell me what
had
had happened between her and Marcus. None of my business was her reply
every time I asked. For five years she had kept it a secret, and now I
could guess only too well what had caused it. I thought hard but I
couldn't remember anything that would have made me think Marcus was gay.
He was a nice guy who listened and talked to me and had been my friend,
was all I could remember.
I had to wait for the mask to come off before I could scurry off to
Sophie's office. She was sitting in her chair looking out of the window
with a glass of wine in her hand. She waved her hand towards the mini
fridge where she always kept a couple of bottles. I helped myself to a
large glass and came round and knelt beside her. She had a faraway look
in her eyes, and I think she had been crying a little. I put my arms
around her and she patted me on the back. She said, I'm sorry, Sammy. I
looked at her and she blushed. I should have told you sooner, but it was
so embarrassing I couldn't tell you. She hugged me and then told me
what
had happened.
She said that everything had been going so well between them. She felt
she had found someone she could trust who treated her with respect. She
had just come out of an abusive relationship so the fact that he didn't
make a lot of demands for sex came as a relief to her. She said he had
seemed a bit on edge in the week before he came to see me, but she
didn't think too much of it. She paused, and I held her hand as she went
on. The day after he had seen me, he asked to see her and told her that
he had met someone else. If hit her like a hammer and she went crazy,
demanding to know who the girl was. He finally told her that it wasn't a
girl, but a man.
She thought he was making it up, but he finally convinced her that he
always thought he was bi, but he had met this guy and he said it was the
real thing. She slapped him and told him to get the fuck away from her.
She paused, looked away from me and said, she was so sorry but she also
told him to stay away from me.
I felt the blood rushing through my ears and I thought I was going to
faint.
She took a deep breath and said she felt awful, thought it had been for
the best. I was so vulnerable at that time, and she feared he would prey
on me. She reached out and held my hand. A few years ago I would have
thrown a fit and stormed out, but over the past few years Sophie had
stood by me and had been my strongest supporter. I think I had grown
into a better person too, and I couldn't blame her for something she had
done in the heat of anger. I dropped to my knees and hugged her, I told
her not to worry, I understood.
She cried, I cried, and we drank the rest of the bottle of wine. We
hugged and told each other what total shits men were, but, all I could
think of was Marcus smiling out from that photograph.
I went home and lay down in my room. I needed to keep away from mother,
one of her snide remarks would have set me off like a bomb. Naomi
knocked on my door and asked if I was alright. Caroline was almost out
of control these days and Naomi was staying with mother and I almost as
much as with her own mother. I told her to come in and she crawled onto
the bed and gave me a cuddle. There is nothing like a cuddle from a
child to make you feel better. She was growing fast, bright and funny
and never failed to cheer me up. I listened to her read, and we giggled
about some of the stupid things the boys got up to at school.
With that laser like directness children possess she asked me why I
didn't have a boyfriend. I told her that I liked being on my own, and it
gave me plenty of time to be with her. She nodded gravely and said she
understood and that it was fine with her. I tickled her until she cried
out for me to stop and we went to have something to eat. We ate in the
same room where Marcus and I had sat the last night I had seen him. I
realised he must have waited to break up with Sophie until he had given
me the information he had found for me. I couldn't stop thinking about
the kiss he had given me on the way out that night.
I slept badly, I couldn't settle with the image of Marcus flitting in
and out of my dreams. I tried to tell myself that there was nothing to
be done. He had made his decision, and that was that. Even so, a small
nagging thought began to slip through my mental defences. What if Sophie
hadn't told him to stay away from me? What might have happened if he
and
I had kept in touch or even continued to meet? It was nonsense I told
myself, it didn't happen and I should leave well alone. But, but...
I finally slept, but something must have been stirring away in my
subconscious because I awoke the next morning with a crazy idea in my
mind. I would go to the wedding and see what would happen. I told myself
I would be going there to celebrate the marriage of a man to whom I
owed
a big debt. Even if he never knew I was there, my gesture might pay back
a tiny part of that debt.
I didn't tell anyone else of my plan. It would have upset Sophie, and my
mother, well, we hardly spoke anymore. As long as I stayed out of her
way I was happy. It was easy to find the date of the ceremony and the
Registrar's Office was easy to get to. It was set for a Saturday two
weeks away, and I made sure I had the day off by switching a shift, then
all I had to do was to choose my outfit. I planned to keep in the
background and just watch, but I was determined to look my best. I
booked a makeover for the morning which left me plenty of time to get to
the Registry Office in time.
I had my eye on a lovely two piece linen suit at work matched with a
pair of killer heels. Everything was set, and I was anxiously counting
the days to the big day. It was late on the Friday evening when Caroline
called me in a panic. She had met yet another man who she was sure
would
be the one for her, definitely a triumph of hope over experience in my
opinion, but you had to give her points for persistence. The problem was
he wanted to take her out on the Saturday to the races of all places,
and she had no one to look after Naomi. Mother was out with the church
yet again and Sophie was away for the weekend with her girlfriend.
She whined and whined to me over the phone that if I didn't look after
Naomi then it would be my fault if she didn't land this guy. I thought
she was delusional about men, but there were very few times I could turn
down looking after Naomi. It occurred to me there might be a way. I
told Caroline I would look after Naomi but only if she could get her
here tonight as I had an early start the next day. Caroline was so
desperate she agreed and brought Naomi over an hour later. Naomi was
excited to spend the night and slept next to me after we had a takeaway
dinner.
I told her that we would be going on a trip the next day and it was to
be a secret that only she and I would share. Early the next morning we
set off to the salon where I had my makeover. To keep Naomi happy, I got
them to give her a little makeover too, her first, and she loved it. I
could tell she was going to be a princess. We stopped at a kids shop and
bought her a pretty new dress and shoes. She announced I was definitely
her favourite aunt.
We went home to get changed and just in time, we jumped into a cab and
headed off to the Registry Office. It wasn't a pretty place, and there
were two or three wedding groups milling around outside when we got
there. I told Naomi an old friend of mine was getting married but we
might not be able to meet him. We waited outside as one bride and groom
emerged and went on their way. Is that them asked Naomi, and I told her
my friend would be next. There was a large group of people, both black
and white mingling together so I guessed they would be for Marcus and
his husband.
A few minutes later, the two of them emerged to loud cheers from the
crowd. They embraced and kissed on the steps of the office to even more
cheers and whoops. Naomi tugged my hand and said Aunt Sammy, they're
boys and they're kissing, I shushed her and told her they loved each
other so it was alright, just like Auntie Sophie and her friend. She
nodded, happy that it was OK if they loved each other. I watched Marcus
smiling and laughing with his arm round Terrance, so I didn't see
exactly what happened next. I think Naomi must somehow have recognised
Marcus because she slipped her hand from mine and before I could grab
her she was running off towards him. Kids can run quickly between and
under adults and I couldn't get to her before she reached him. She stood
in front of the couple and looked up at them. Marcus looked down, and I
heard him say hello, and ask her who she was. Naomi looked back to find
me, but couldn't see me and the next thing I heard was her telling him
her name was Naomi.
He smiled and then I saw a puzzled look slowly form on his face. He
looked around and then back down at Naomi, trying to work out why she
seemed familiar. It was at that moment that I managed to push to the
front of the group just as a small gap opened up, and I hissed at her to
come back to me. She turned round, pointed to me and said that's Aunt
Sammy. Marcus followed Naomi's pointing finger and saw me. The look on
his face was priceless as he recognised me, his mouth opened in surprise
and I think he took a step backwards. It was if he had seen a ghost.
He whispered something to his husband, took Naomi's hand and led her
over to me. I didn't know what to do or say, I had not planned for this.
I managed a smile as he stood in front of me, still not quite able to
believe what he was seeing. He asked if it was really me. I nodded, and
he smiled that killer smile of his and wrapped his arms around me. I saw
Terence look over at us with a frown on his face as he talked to
someone. Sammy, I am so pleased to see you, I heard him say, you look
wonderful, and this is little Naomi. He let me go still smiling and
hugged Naomi, who looked embarrassed at the attention she was now
receiving.
I took her hand back, and he said Sammy, why, how, oh God there are so
many questions. I was beginning to tear up and said congratulations, and
that he and Terence looked lovely together. He turned round to Terence
and waved him over. He said he wanted him to meet Sammy and Naomi, two
old friends of his. Terence shook my hand and smiled at Naomi. He said
he was pleased to see us and he was glad we could come. Congratulations,
I told him, but he looked over my shoulder and replied thank you, but
there was someone he must meet and bye.
Marcus took my hands and aid that I looked wonderful. He was so pleased
to see me and that there were a million questions he wanted to ask me.
How did I find out about this? Power of the press, I told him, it was a
lovely photograph. He grinned as he said that Terence was lovely wasn't
he. He then threw me completely by asking if we could meet up, he wanted
to find out all about me.
That stopped me in my tracks. I really hadn't thought this through. I
hesitated, and he said he would give me his number and if I wanted to
chat to give him a call. He grabbed a pen from someone and wrote his
number on my hand. The touch of his fingers sent a tremor through me.
He had to dash he said, but it had been great to see me. He was being
waved at by Terence, and he leant forward and kissed me on the cheek,
just as he had five years previously. He walked over to Terence who
threw a look in my direction, obviously asking Terence who I was.
Naomi and I took a cab back home and on the way I transferred his number
to my phone. I had no intention of using it, but it was a connection to
him so I didn't want to lose it. Naomi was chatting all the way back,
so
I didn't have time to think about it all until later. It was only when I
was in bed, unable to sleep, that I got to think about what had
happened. No harm done by going to the wedding, I thought, I'll go on as
before, it won't change anything. As I finally drifted off to sleep all
I could think of was that kiss.
Part Three
Life went back to what passed for normal after my trip to the wedding.
Caroline's latest man dumped her when he found out about Naomi, and what
worried me was that one of these losers would stick around for a while
and become an influence on Naomi. Does that make me a bad sister or a
good aunt?
Sophie and her partner planned to open a second spa, and out of the blue
she asked me if I would be interested in managing it. I was enormously
flattered and told her I would, on the condition we offer a service for
trans girls as well. She liked the idea as long as we could keep it
discreet. She didn't mean it badly, but it's the kind of thinking that
drives me crazy. I told her it makes me feel as if we have to be hidden
away somewhere. She said that wasn't what she meant, but she would have
to talk it over with her partner and let me know. Put it this way, I
wouldn't hold my breath.
Mother had begun to worry me. She spent more and more time at the church
and I became concerned at the amount of influence they had on her. I
tried to talk to her but it was like trying to communicate with a
pre-programmed robot.
A week later Sophie asked to talk to me, so I met her at the spa after
work and we sat down with a glass of wine. She had discussed the idea of
a service for trans girls with her partner, but they felt it wouldn't
work as a shared service with the new spa. I opened my mouth, and she
held up her hand for me to shut up. One day she said, I would learn to
jump in with a pause. I smiled, but what she said next floored me. They
thought it was such a good idea they would be prepared to go into it
with me as a stand alone business if I could raise some money to put
into it.
I was speechless. Never in my wildest dreams had I thought about doing
something like this. I asked her if she was serious and said, yes why
not? My head was whirling, but I immediately began thinking about what
we could offer. Sophie laughed as she watched my face and she said the
first thing is to do some research to assess demand, then we would need
a build a business plan to see if it would be profitable. My sister the
businesswoman who would have guessed? She asked if I would be interested
and I squealed and hugged her. She laughed and asked if that was a yes.
We drank more wine, and I headed off home with my mind buzzing with
ideas.
It's strange how life can get complicated very quickly. The day after my
conversation with Sophie, I had a call from a headhunter offering me a
job at a rival department store with better pay and benefits than my
current one. It would be a great opportunity for me, but coming so close
on the heels of Sophie's offer, it threw me into a spin. I loved the
idea of doing something on my own, but the security of the new job was
so tempting. God, I needed someone to help me sort this out. It
obviously couldn't be Sophie, Caroline would be worse than useless, and
my mother was out of the question. There was one person who I knew who
would be great, but I couldn't possibly call Marcus, or could I?
It took two days of arguing with myself to decide if I should call him
or not. He had given me his number, so he didn't mind if I called. The
hesitation was all on my side. Did I want to go there? There was a
fierce battle raging between my head and my heart. My head was saying it
would be a good idea and my heart was ringing alarm bells. I must have
picked up my phone and put it down again twenty times before I summoned
up the nerve to dial the number.
My heart was pounding as I heard the call connect and then the ringing
tone. My courage failed, and I was about to ring off just as he
answered. Oh my God, what should I say? My mind went blank, and I heard
him say again Marcus Flood, who is this. I finally managed to croak that
it was me, Sammy..
He told me to hang on a minute. The line went quiet, and I thought he'd
hung up. A few seconds later, he came on again apologising as he had
been in a meeting. We chatted a little before he came right out and
asked if we could meet as he had to get back to his meeting. I
swallowed, then said yes I would like to. We agreed to have a drink the
day after next. He seemed happy as he signed off by saying that he
couldn't wait to see me again. It was that easy. I hung up, completely
unsure of what I had just done.
The next two days dragged past. I was tense with excitement and dread at
what I was going to do. Half the time, of course, I worried about what
to wear. I went through my wardrobe three times, trying on different
looks before going back to the black dress I had picked out first. I
matched it with black heels, naturally, and a short black leather biker
jacket. Chic but classy, I hoped. I immediately changed my mind three
times before coming back to it. I got back from work, changed, put my
hair into a ponytail and sat on the bed, wondering what the hell I was
doing. I took a deep breath, tried to clear my mind and walked out the
door before I could stop myself.
I arrived early. I am always early; I can't help it, I am terrified of
being late for something, so I overcompensate and get there far too
early. I grabbed a table as the bar was getting busy and ordered a glass
of wine. I was so nervous my hands trembled slightly as I held the
glass. I half hoped he wouldn't turn up when I felt the lightest touch
on my shoulder and looked up to see him smiling down at me. I stood up,
almost knocking over my glass in my nervousness and he kissed me on the
cheek. I could smell his cologne, light, fresh and slightly feminine.
He looked good, a tight white shirt under a pale blue linen jacket and
tight jeans. He ordered a bottle of wine and sat down opposite me. It
was so good to see me again, he said. Our wine arrived, and he filled
both our glasses so we could say cheers as we clinked glasses. I told
him that he and Terence looked so good together. They had met at a party
a couple of years earlier and they had decided to get married only a
few
months ago. They were hoping to adopt a child at some stage as both of
them wanted a family.
He asked how my family was, and I told him about Caroline and mother,
and finally I talked about Sophie. His face dropped when I mentioned her
name and he said he had been truly sorry about what had happened back
then. He thought he had been bi-sexual, but when he met this boy, he
felt he was gay for certain and he couldn't pretend to Sophie any more;
it wasn't fair to her. His face was a picture when I told him Sophie was
now living with a woman. He didn't know whether to laugh or look
serious, and I let him off the hook by laughing at him. I told him it
wasn't him, it was the string of bastards she used to hang around with
who turned her off men. You were so different from them, in more ways
than one, I giggled. He had finished his degree and was working as
community liaison for, of all people, the police. I had to laugh at the
irony, remembering our conversations back then about how useless the
police were.
After we talked about everyone else, he asked me how I had got on after
he and Sophie split up. I told him that I had gone to the LGBT group and
counselling and it had been the saving of me. I owed him a huge debt of
gratitude because of what he had done for me. He shook his head and
said
I owed him nothing that he had only given me the names. It had been me
that done the hard graft. I held up my glass and said thank you, anyway.
He grinned and clinked his glass against mine.
It seemed incredible, but we had finished our bottle already. I looked
at the time and we had been talking for well over an hour. Marcus asked
if we should share another bottle and I shook my head, maybe a glass, I
said. I didn't want to end up drunk tonight of all nights. He went off
to order, and I watched him as he walked to the bar. Tall and well
built, his black skin glowing under the lights, hair cut close to his
scalp, he had almost a dancer's grace in the way he walked. He was the
most beautiful man I have ever seen. I smiled as several women followed
him with their eyes on his way back, and I felt a thrill knowing they
would see him sit down with me.
I couldn't believe how easy it was to talk to him. I had shed all my
nerves, and it was just like the old days. A laugh was never far away
from Marcus and it seemed I was constantly smiling as we talked. He
suddenly said that his biggest regret was not being able to see me again
after the breakup. Maybe because I had already drunk too much, but
without thinking I asked him why. He looked straight at me and said
because he had liked coming to see me. A bell started ringing in my mind
and I knew I should be careful what I said next. I looked at him over
the edge of the glass and said softly I had missed his visits too. They
had meant so much to me; it had been hard to take at the time.
A silence followed which neither of us wanted to break. He blinked and
looked away, and when he looked back, he said that he had been so
surprised to see me at the wedding and for a split second he had thought
it was Sophie who had turned up. I said that was like the last thing he
had said to me before he left the house all those years ago. He nodded,
He remembered. He could recall every second of that evening he said,
how Naomi had stuck her fingers in his mouth, and how beautiful he
thought I had looked. I blushed scarlet at his words, and I felt tears
pricking the corners of my eyes.
Please don't cry he said, and as he touched my hand, I felt as if I had
touched a live wire. Shit, this wasn't going right, I thought. I wiped
my eyes and said there was something I needed his advice on. He took his
hand away, and I immediately wished he had left it there. I talked
about
Sophie's offer and the new job and how I couldn't make up my mind which
one would be right for me. He sat back and thought for a second or so
before asking me what did I want to do. I want to run the trans girl
service, I said, but it isn't that easy.
Why not? was the instant reply. I'm scared, I said, that's the real
reason, scared of swapping security for risk. He grinned at me, like you
did when you decided you were really a girl? Not fair, I replied, it's
different. Not from where I sit, he countered. You wanted something that
you felt was right and you went and did it, very beautifully too. I
felt
another tingle at his words. He pressed on, do you feel this is the
right thing to do? I nodded and said, yes, for dozens of reasons. Well
do it, never die wondering what if, he said.
Anyway, I said, I don't think it's going to happen because I have no
chance of raising the money. Have you tried, he asked, looking
thoughtful. No, I said, but who on earth would lend me money for a
stupid business idea like this.
He said that he, for one, didn't think it was a stupid idea, and that I
would never find out if I didn't try to raise the money. Marcus glanced
at his watch and said he had to go, Terence would be home soon. He said
it in a way which made me think he hadn't told Terence he was meeting me
tonight. We walked to the door together where he hugged me and said he
hoped he had helped and that we should see each other again soon. He
leant down to give me a kiss on the cheek when someone bumped me from
behind; I jolted forwards and our lips met. We both pulled back in
surprise, Marcus looked at me, turned on his heels and walked away
without a word.
I stood there, my cheeks burning in embarrassment. What was that all
about? Everything had gone well until that moment. I felt I had screwed
up somehow, but I didn't have a clue as to how. I called a cab even
though I lived only a couple of miles away. I didn't like to walk home
on my own, it's too dangerous for a single girl to be out late at night,
especially a single trans girl. Too many of us have been attacked for
any of us to feel safe on our own.
As I walked into the house, my phone beeped. It was a single word text
message from Marcus - Sorry.
Sorry for what, I thought. The kiss? Or walking away without saying a
word? Or meeting me? What the hell did he mean?
I was in a foul mood and exploded at my mother when she said something
about the way I was dressed. She responded with something about my life
being wasted and we had a screaming row. I have to get out of this
madhouse, I thought. I slept badly; the anger from the fight with my
mother and the effect of meeting Marcus keeping me from sleep. I must
have fallen asleep eventually because I woke feeling awful. Dragging
myself from my bed I found a text from the headhunter asking for an
answer about the job. Taking a couple of painkillers and two cups of
black coffee to wake myself up, I went to work. On the bus, I thought
about what Marcus had said, take the risk, go for it. All well and good
for him to say, he's not taking the risk, I am. I decided to take the
new job; it was the sensible decision. I texted the headhunter and
confirmed I would take the job. I felt better immediately; it had been
the right thing to do.
It was a busy day, and I didn't have a chance to look at my phone until
my lunch break. I had a message from Sophie saying mother had been
complaining to her about me. Did I want her to do anything? Shoot my
mother was the first thing which came to mind. There were also three
texts from Marcus, asking me to call him. I hesitated with my finger
over the call button, what was this about? After last night, did I
really want to talk to him again? Of course, I pressed the button, heard
the ringing tone, and it went straight to voicemail. I left a message
and hung up; sensible me hoping he wouldn't call back, crazy me thinking
about the kiss last night. A few minutes later the phone rang and I
could see it was Marcus. I accepted the call, and he said he hadn't got
much time, but he had found someone who might put up money for my idea.
Could we meet tonight to discuss it?
Shit, what do I do? It wouldn't affect my decision, but I was intrigued,
how had he found someone that quickly. OK, I said, where? He mentioned
another bar in town and we agreed to meet at eight. I was OK with this;
I had made my decision and surely no harm could come from meeting him. I
dressed down this time, a pair of tight jeans which I knew made my bum
look good, ankle boots and a man's white shirt under a linen jacket and
I left my hair loose.
I was there early, you will not be surprised to learn. I bought a bottle
this time and Marcus turned up five minutes late, looking a little
flustered I thought. He gave me a kiss on the cheek and sat down. I need
a drink he said. Tough day? I asked. Yeah, but you don't want to know
about it. I did oddly enough, but didn't say anything. So, you found
someone with money to throw away? I asked him, thinking a joke would
help. He sighed, the joke didn't make him laugh. He said, In my job I
get to meet all kinds of people, not just the ones causing trouble, but
those who want to help as well. Believe it or not the police are trying
to stop hate crimes of all kinds, including against the TG community.
First I'd heard of it, I thought, but I kept that to myself.
He went on that he had met a guy who wants to help the TG community, but
because of his position he wants to keep his name out of it. He's not
rich, but has some money to invest if the right opportunity came up.
Marcus had thought of him last night when we were talking and called him
this morning. He would be interested, but would need to see a plan and
profit projections.
I sat back, stunned by what Marcus had said. Yes, you're right, I know
alarm bells should have been ringing at what he said, but all I could
think of was I might be able to set up my trans girl service. Excited by
the idea, I asked when could I meet him? Marcus hesitated, before
saying
that the guy wants to be anonymous, his position meant that it wouldn't
be possible for him to be publicly involved. He had given Marcus the
authority to negotiate on his behalf up to a certain limit. Did I know
how much I needed to put into the business.
No, I didn't, I told him. I hadn't got that far, only that I would be
going half and half with Sophie. I would need to do some research and
put together some projections before knowing how much to put in. Marcus
said timing would be no problem, but sooner rather than later would be
good. Now I was really fired up, ideas were flooding through my mind and
I had forgotten my safety first decision of earlier. We agreed that I
would do the work with Sophie and get back to Marcus when I knew what I
needed. We clinked glasses and toasted the success of the new business.
I couldn't help but wonder who this investor might be. I asked Marcus
what the mystery guy wanted from the business and he said a reasonable
return on his investment, but more than anything he wanted to help the
TG community.
I was so excited I couldn't stop babbling about the ideas I had and
Marcus laughed at my enthusiasm. I blushed and said that this was
important for me I would love for it to work. He smiled and said, he
could tell. He put his hand on mine again and that feeling shot through
me. I wasn't sure where this was going but I curled my fingers up and
around his hand and he didn't take it away. My heart was beating so
hard, I thought he might hear it. Everything else faded into the
background and all I could see were my fingers around his hand. God,
this was wrong. I knew it, but I didn't want it to stop. I slowly
brought my eyes up to his, and he was smiling at me, and my heart almost
stopped.
I need some air, I said and let go of his hand, grabbed my bag and
dashed outside. I leant backwards against the wall, sucking in lungfuls
of air and trying to stop shaking. Marcus followed me out of the bar and
came and stood in front of me. He put his arms around me and hugged me,
and I began to calm down a bit. I looked up at him, and he dipped his
head slowly and deliberately and kissed me on the lips, this time not by
accident. He pressed his lips hard against mine and I began to kiss him
back, slowly at first and then harder. My arms went up around his neck
and pulled him down onto my lips.
He pulled back to look into my eyes,and whispered that he had waited
so long to kiss me.
Part Four
I melted into his embrace as his tongue fought with mine. His hands
found my backside, pulling me tighter into him, and I moaned as his hard
cock pushed into my groin. My heart raced and my stomach fluttered
wildly as we stayed locked together. Breaking the kiss, he tilted my
head back and touched my neck with his lips once, and then again, making
my knees buckle. His lips, oh so gently brushed mine, and it was if
every nerve ending in my body flicked on at once. His scent seemed to
fill my nostrils, fueling the desire which was flooding through my body,
and I felt my cock begin to tingle and respond as I become more and
more
excited. He whispered my name as he stroked my neck with his fingers,
each delicate touch scalding my skin.
From somewhere, I heard a girl giggle, and a man said they should get a
room. I froze, I had completely forgotten where we were. I covered my
face in Marcus's chest in complete embarrassment as he stroked my hair
and said we should probably stop now before we got arrested for a public
order offence. I looked up at him, his eyes were shining and my heart
lurched as I realised I was falling in love with him. God, what a mess,
I thought. I needed time to think, to decide what I wanted.
I have to go, I said, I would call him tomorrow, and without another
word, I walked away. I looked back, and he was leaning against the wall,
his hands covering his face. I spent the journey home in the cab
telling
myself how stupid I had just been. He's married for fuck's sake, you
can't do this. As I approached home, I had a text from him - let me know
u got home OK. I texted back - home OK speak tomorrow.
I arrived home confused and frustrated by what had happened. Tonight my
feelings for Marcus had exploded into the open and left me bewildered
and frightened about what we had done. Nobody had ever made me feel like
this. When he kissed me I fell apart, my emotions shredded by the touch
of his lips and fingers. I lay on my bed, thinking about the way it
took
only the lightest brush of his lips across mine for me lose my senses.
The experience had left me feeling as horny as hell, and I closed my
eyes, imaging his fingers stroking my neck and his tongue slipping its
way through my lips. I felt his hands outside my shirt rubbing my
breasts and setting my nipples on fire.
My fingers unbutton my shirt as I imagined Marcus doing the same. I feel
his hands slide under my bra and roll his fingers around my aching
nipples. I unhook my bra and he blows across my breasts, making me moan
as the tension builds and builds. His tongue laps around my nipples and
he sucks each one in turn into his hot, wet mouth. I arch my back as he
nips a nipple with his teeth and licks his way down my tummy. I feel
butterflies in my stomach as his tongue traces its way lower and lower,
licking and kissing me until I whimper out loud. I imagine his hands
coming up and stroking my breasts as he kisses my belly, my defences
overwhelmed by the attacks from his tongue and fingers. He fumbles with
his finger as he tries to undo my jeans, and I shove his hands aside,
unzipping them and push them down. He pulls them off completely leaving
me with just my panties, and I lay back waiting for his next move.
I could see in my mind's eye his tongue lick the outside of my panties,
tracing the outline of my cock as it begins to grow under the touch of
his lapping tongue. He grips the waist of my panties in his teeth and
pulls them down slowly, so that my cock peeks out, the tip glistening in
the dim light. He pauses, savouring the moment I raise my hips,
desperate for his touch on my cock, and he finally dips to kiss the
head, causing me to growl with passion and desire. Hooking his thumbs
into the sides of my panties, slowly sliding them down over my thighs
and knees and feet, before throwing them into a corner of the room.
In my imagination I watch him kneel on the bed before pulling his shirt
over his head and his dark chest ripples with reflected light. He smiles
down at me, then lies down again, and his soft breath plays across the
tip of my cock, making it twitch in anticipation of what is to come. I
see him look up at me, and with his eyes still fixed on mine, he flicks
his tongue against the tip, before swirling his tongue around it. He
pays with me, teasing the tip of my cock before swirling his tongue
around the head and flicking that little area of delicate skin where the
head joins the shaft. Only when he knows he has me on the ceiling with
desire does he slide his warm mouth over my cock and draw me deep into
him. Even then, he teases me by letting me slide out and I look down at
him again to see him smile wickedly at me before slipping me back into
his mouth.
My imagination is in overdrive now, feeling his tongue wrapping itself
around my cock like a snake, as he slides up and down the shaft. I am
dangerously close by this time to my climax and he slows, letting me
calm down before using his hand to bring me back to the edge once more.
My hands are on his head, urging him to finish the job, when he knocks
my hands away and gets to his knees, he unbuckles his trousers and
slides them down to reveal his cock standing straight out from his
groin. I stare because I have never seen a cock as beautiful as his. He
reaches for the lube I keep on my bedside chest and squeezes it over
his
cock and into my hole. I squirm as I feel it, but I know I will be
grateful for it when the moment comes. I cannot help myself and I spread
my legs for him, opening myself up to receive him.
He puts his hands on my legs to keep them spread, making me feel
deliciously vulnerable. I feel his cock tap at the entrance to my hole
and he gently squeezes his cock in a fraction before withdrawing and
then pushing again. I'm tense, because he is big, and it's been sometime
since I had a cock in me. In my imagination I tell myself to relax and
push back onto him. Once, twice I feel his cock stretching me until it
stings so hard, and I push back one more time and he finally penetrates
me. I scream and wrap my legs around his back, locking my ankles
together to keep him inside me. I feel his weight on my chest as he
begins to slide his cock in and out of me. He leans forward to kiss me
and I hear him say I love you Sammy.
Reality snaps my eyes open and I find myself naked on the bed, my cock
standing up and desperate for some relief. I roll over and open my
bedside drawer and my fingers find what I need, a tube of lube and my
favourite toy, my dildo. With trembling fingers I smear the dildo and my
hole and press the button to start it vibrating. I lie on my back,
raise
my bum and slide it into me. The vibration kicks in and I close my eyes,
imagining it is Marcus and not a cold, hard piece of plastic. With one
hand I move it in and out, and with the other I stroke my cock, feeling
the climax beginning to build deep within me. I shove the dildo harder
and harder into me and my fist is pumping my cock until the small
volcano of my climax start to grow and grow and grow and hot sticky cum
erupts from my cock.
I woke the next morning, still naked, with the dildo lying beside me and
a pounding headache. I moaned as I moved, and for some reason every
muscle in my body seemed to ache. I must have fallen asleep after my
climax last night, and I shuddered as I remembered what I had done last
night. Wrapping myself in a robe, I made some coffee, took a couple of
aspirins and went back to bed. I called in sick to work and disappeared
back under the duvet to try to go back to sleep. It was no use; all I
could think of was last night with Marcus. The cold light of dawn
revealed the full extent of the disaster; I had kissed a man whose
wedding I had attended a couple of weeks before, had fantasised about
him making love to me, and pleasured myself thinking about him. I told
myself that he had started it, but even I knew that was no excuse for
what I had done.
I knew now what my real feelings were for Marcus, and it made me shiver
to think about facing him again. If I wanted to follow up about the
money for the business, then I would have to meet him, I hid my face
with the duvet as I burned scarlet with embarrassment. Why was
everything so difficult in my life? There was something nagging at me in
the back of my mind, something Marcus had said last night. I shook my
head, that was a bad move, it was still pounding even after the
aspirins. I shrugged and thought I would need to sign and return the
contract for the new job when It flashed into my mind. Just before he
kissed me had had said he had waited so long to do it. I lay back on the
bed staring at the ceiling. That could only mean that he had wanted to
do it five years ago when he was with Sophie. I had never suspected a
thing. Did this make it better or worse? I beat the pillow with my fist.
My phone buzzed, and I looked at it as if it might be a hand grenade
about to go off. What if it was Marcus, what the hell should I do?
Caller ID showed it was Sophie, so I answered it, blushing as I thought
of what I'd just learnt about Marcus. I told her I was sick and hadn't
gone to work, and she asked if I had thought any more about the trans
girl business. I told her I had and there was the chance I might be able
to raise some money. She asked from where, but I said it wasn't certain
so I would keep it to myself until I knew more. She had done some work
and had found a possible site; a hairdresser was closing down, and the
lease was available soon. She asked if I wanted to go with her to see it
and could I make this afternoon.
We agreed she would pick me up at two o'clock which should allow me to
get myself sorted out in time. I put the phone down, and it rang again
straight away. I picked it up thinking it was Sophie calling back about
something she'd forgotten. I said, yeah what? only to hear Marcus's
voice saying hello, is everything alright?
I nearly dropped the phone in fright. I mumbled I'm sorry I thought it
was Sophie. We're going to look at a possible place for the new business
this afternoon. He paused, then said we needed to talk. Hell, I hadn't