Falling for Jillian Ashley: A Carlsbad Village Lesbian Romance

When they were done there, Sally suggested they be rebels and have cocktails, even though it had only just turned eleven a.m. Amy used her phone to find the name and location of what looked to be a hipster rum bar on Seneca Street, which was just a couple of blocks ahead. Just as they turned onto that street, something caught Amy’s eye.

“Oh, look! How gorgeous!”

In the window of a jewelry store was a stunning ruby and emerald necklace on display along with several other pieces including a couple of bracelets, a handful of engagement rings and three ladies watches. But the necklace was the star of the show.

“Do you think that’s real?” Amy asked, in awe.

“I bet it is. This looks like the kind of shop that sells the good stuff.”

Amy nodded, wondering where she would wear such a necklace. It would have to be an amazing occasion. Lesbian Podcast of the Year Awards (once she invented that), or something similar. Or when her and Sally celebrated their 120th month together.

Ten years.

The thought made Amy smile. It also made her eyes wander down to where several engagements rings in black velvet boxes sho

ne like stars brought down from the firmament.

Chapter 42

God, that necklace is out of this world!

Amy had good taste in jewelry, Sally considered, eyeing the ruby and emerald masterpiece in the window. She tried to imagine owning it, actually having it in her jewelry collection. Then, she tried imagining what kind of occasion would merit her taking it out of whatever biometrically-accessed, 25-digit PIN, laser-grid-protected safe she would keep the necklace in, and wear it.

She had always thought that if she ever did start her own graphic design firm, that she would host a fabulous holiday party at the end of each year. That would be a good time to break out the necklace.

Or winning an Indigo Award—that would certainly be another occasion; especially once the pandemic was good and over and things like in-person awards ceremonies became a reality again.

Or maybe an anniversary. An anniversary with Amy.

Five years. Ten…

The thought caused a warm glow to bloom in her chest and a secret smile to play on her lips.

Sally knew she was in love with Amy. Had known it for a while now. Ever since the Incident. Okay, she considered, maybe she had known it even before then. At the very least, she had known her feelings towards Amy were heading in that direction. But it was the Incident which really brought it home for her. Being able to walk away from the airplane on legs which had felt like jelly because she had been so scared had made Sally so appreciative of being alive and though it was now a week since that emergency landing, Sally knew she still wanted her second chance at life to be spent with this workaholic caffeine addict standing by her side now on a street in Seattle.

And she knew Amy felt the same way; that Amy was in love with her also. It was in the way Amy looked at her; in the way Amy kissed her; in the way Amy refused to go to sleep each night unless some part of her body was touching Sally. They hadn’t said the words yet, though. Was Amy waiting for her to say them first? Sally had often wondered that. For her own part, Sally was waiting for the perfect moment. She had almost said it yesterday when they were in the airport waiting to board their flight here to Seattle, but who says “I love you” for the first time to someone in an airport? Might as well say it in a post office. And she had almost screamed it last night as she orgasmed for the fourth time, but she always thought that declarations of love made mid-orgasm were not to be trusted. Besides, that was a hell of an orgasm. The truth was, Sally loved everybody as she was rocked with that one.

She mentally shrugged.

They’d say it when they’d say it, she figured. In the end, they were just words. What mattered was how they felt and how they treated each other. If Amy never said it, Sally would still be content provided Amy continued looking at her the way she did, and kissed her the way she did, and insisted on drifting off to sleep while touching her.

Sally’s eyes wandered around the jewelry store’s window at some of the other items. The watches caught her attention and she reminded herself that her meddling mother’s birthday was coming up. A watch would do nicely, even though what her mother really wanted was a doctor’s lesbian daughter as a future daughter-in-law; but Sally would insist she settle for the watch.

Oh, how beautiful!

Sally’s eyes had just alighted on the cluster of engagement rings in the window. There were seven of them and what Sally liked about them all was that even though they were clearly engagement rings, none of them were very traditional-looking. The jeweler had managed to craft diamond rings that had funky, contemporary designs that were still elegant and which used a variety of metals, sometimes in the same ring.

“These are so cool!” she muttered. “I love it when jewelry designers push the envelope!”

Amy nudged her.

“Let’s go in! I really like their stuff and wouldn’t mind seeing more. Ooh, maybe we can try some pieces on!”

“What? Really?”

“I love trying on jewelry!” Amy pressed. “Come on!”

But Sally hesitated.