Lost And Found

"...Oh, my...goodness...um..."

Cessy nodded. She knew. She was a mess. She reluctantly and slowly spilled out all her details. As the story went on, the woman gasped, placing a concerned hand over her mouth.

"Oh, how awful," she sympathized from behind her fingers.

"Yeah, so..." Cecily shrugged sadly. "To be honest, I even feel a little funny being here in your...just...extraordinarily beautiful home." She motioned in the direction of the door. "Maybe I should just, uh..."

The woman stopped her. "Oh, goodness, no, please!" she said. "I mean, I...you've-you've just done this wonderfully...wonderful thing for me..." She tried to think. She wasn't terribly good with words, or articulating herself, but she knew what she wanted to convey. "...And now the least I can do is to repay your kindness. Please let me get you something to eat. And offer you my shower. You can go and bathe, and, I'll wash your clothes for you. Really, please, I want to. To say thank you. It's the least I can do. Please."

"Oh my gosh..." said an overwhelmed Cecily. "But, I...I don't even know your name."

"It's Penelope. Penelope Isabel James. But, call me Penny, please."

"...Okay, well...hi, Penny. Cecily Helmsley. And call me Cesse."

"You got it. Now then, Cesse, what can I get you to eat, my dear?"

"Well...gosh, Penny, are you sure?"

"Oh, please don't say no, Cesse. I couldn't bear to turn you back out into the cold knowing you had nowhere to go."

Cesse had to admit that she was stunned. Never once in her four months of homelessness had anyone even come remotely close to going this far out of the way to be so kind to her or to take care of her. But then, she'd also never been presented with the chance to do the anyone in question such a marvelous good deed. She obliged, shyly but secretly ecstatically, and Penny took her and her anxiously thrilled appetite to the kitchen.

***

November 26th, 5:38 p.m.

One piping hot chicken pot pie, one glass of nice cold milk, one nice cold popsicle for dessert and one piping hot shower later, Cecily Helmsley literally felt like a new woman. It was hard to believe she still even lived in her same skin now. The pleasure continuing to flow through her after the water turned off was unreal. It was unfathomable. She was...clean.

Her tummy was full, and her body was squeaky clean.

And while her clothes were in the wash, Penny had left her a big fluffy pink bathrobe with a belt sash to go around the waist.

WOW, Cessy thought, noticing the robe as she picked up the towel to dry herself. Nicest, lady, EVER. Period.

She still wasn't sure if all this came with a catch or what, but she'd deal with that if and when it appeared. She wasn't sure how long this spell of divine nirvana might last, but she definitely wanted to enjoy it while it did.

Now passably dry and wearing only the robe, she descended back down the stairs to see Penelope playing a new game with Hollaweenie. She held one end of a bone-shaped toy in the air, and raised it, then lowered it as the dog repeatedly jumped for it. Cesse noticed it was now dark outside, and more, that Penny had activated the Christmas lights strung around her windows.

"Oh, wow."

Penny looked up to see her.

"'Oh, wow' is right. You look like a new woman! Look at'cha, all fresh and pretty!"

Not exactly what Cesse was referring to, but she'd take it. She smiled.

"Thank you about a bazillion and twelve times, Penny. I feel like it too.

"...I don't think I've ever actually met someone who turned their lights on before it was even Thanksgiving."

"Oh, they've been on since midnight on Halloween," Penelope grinned proudly. "See, you're right, most people don't plug 'em in till Thanksgiving, and that's fine, but—and call me crazy if you want—I personally think that kinda...'gyps' Thanksgiving, in a way. Y'know? I mean, by the time you get to November, and you've got the two big holidays left—well, that changes a little if you're Jewish, but you know what I mean—I think of the last two holidays as...twins, in a way. And Christmas of course gets all the hype in the world, but Thanksgiving doesn't really get any. I think that's kind of a shame.

"I mean, yeah, Thanksgiving does have its purposes, of course: stuffing your face, watching sports, falling asleep, and that family ritual thing of, y'know, 'Hey, I'm thankful for this,' 'Yeah, I'm thankful for that,' blahbbity-blah, boppity-bop. But I still think we're kinda missing a bet leaving the lights off till afterwards. 'Course, at the same time, I'm a holiday-lovin', Christmasy gal. If the novelty didn't wear off—and if it didn't send the electricity bill through the roof—I'd have 'em on all dang year."

Wow, good...gravy, thought Cesse. She sauntered to the sofa and let herself down, careful to manipulate the robe so she didn't flash any delicate areas. She watched them play until Hollaweenie decided he wished to dine himself, and ran off.

"Oh well," sighed Penelope, standing straight up. "Well...oh, hey, can I get you some wine?"

Cecily let her head fall back on the sofa. "Oh, I love wine," she gushed. "Heavens, Penny, I could just hug you."

Penny smiled as she again adjourned to the kitchen.

"That could be arranged."

Five minutes later, Cecily had slipped into the second circle of heaven with not one but two glasses of sumptuous, robust Cabernet. Penny had started her second as well. Now that they were really loosening up, they settled into a pleasant, casual, easy conversation.

"You have the most beautiful home I've ever seen in my life," Cesse commented sincerely.

"Thank you, my friend!" said Penny. "It was an amazing stroke of luck in my legacy. What happened was, believe it or not, some years ago, I was actually homeless myself."

Cesse arched her eyebrows in surprise. Well, no wonder she was so welcoming.

"And at one point I actually had to start begging people for money. And it was astonishing—one time, I approached this lady, and asked if she might be able to help me, and, you are not gonna believe—are you ready for this?—just, right out of the blue..." Penny lowered her voice. "...She gave me...fifty, dollars!"

Cecily's mouth dropped open.

"I know, right?!" chuckled Penelope, noting her reaction. "It was unbelievable! I didn't think she was for real at first. But...well, you may not know this about me, but believe me when I tell you, Cesse, I am the most thankful person in the world. I don't take anything for granted anymore. And she was totally on the level, and it was totally real money. That lady very possibly saved my life that day. 'Cause once I'd spent almost all of it, I was at this convenience store, and I had just enough money left for a lottery ticket."

Cesse gazed at her. "Whoa...I think I just filled in the blank."

Penny nodded back. "Powerball. $58 million."

Cecily almost spit took her wine. "Good Lord!"

"You can say that again about a dozen times. So I saw a financial advisor to help me decide what to do with it, met with a few real estate agents, and..." She shrugged. "...Hop, skip and a jump later, here I am.

"And I owe it all to that magical, angelic woman. She was almost like my fairy godmother."

Cesse could not believe it.

"I cannot believe it."

"I KNOW!" Penny repeated. "Isn't that incredible??"

Cesse set down her wine glass.

"You have no idea, Penny."

"I don't?"

"Let me ask you something if I may, Penny...did this woman, per chance, have a baby blue Buick LeSabre?"

"Um..." Penny thought. "I know it was a blue car. But I'm not terribly good with makes and models and all that stuff."

"Uh-huh," replied Cessy. "And, eh...just a wild stab in the dark here—did you happen to be pregnant at the time?"

It was Penny's turn to be floored.

"How on Earth could you possibly know that?!" she asked in awe. "Did I let that slip out subliminally or something?"

Cecily shook her head. "No. But...

"You did allow me to slip you the fifty dollars."

Penny's jaw hit the floor. Her eyebrows all but leapt off her forehead.

"NO WAY!!" she exclaimed. "It was you??!"

"It's not the wine talking. Honest to goodness, Penny-Lane, I'm just as blown away as you are!"

"WOWie!" laughed Penny. "That's awesome! Well...gosh, hi!" she giggled, shaking Cecily's hand. "How have you been?"

Cecily hugged her, squeezing her with unexpectedly forceful affection. Her tone turned serious and fragile. In fact, Penny thought she even heard her voice crack as she continued hugging her so tightly.

"Now SO glad I was nice and generous to you that day...you have no idea," Cesse reiterated.

Penelope was taken quite by surprise, but she slipped her arms around Cecily as well.

"I guess I don't," she quietly rejoined.

For a few moments they let all the sound and all the outside world fade away as they sat still in one another's arms, in mutual astonishment at the twist of fate that brought them together here tonight. So deep in wonder were they of this marvelous chance encounter, Hollaweenie trotted through the room and began climbing the staircase and neither of them even noticed.

Finally, Cesse released her.

"Oh, gosh, I...uh...please excuse me, Penny," she apologized, a bit embarrassed. "I'd forgotten what happens when I drink. I get a little...well, um...I guess wistful. And then I get...kinda..."

Penny waited. "...Yes?"

Cecily blushed. "Well, then I become rather..." She finished the declaration under her breath. "...Amorous."

The blush spread to Penny's cheeks as well hearing this.

"Well, that doesn't really surprise me, to be honest, Cesse. I mean, you're obviously a person with tons of love in your heart, that you've probably been wanting to find someone to share it with for a little while—but I'm just speculating here, of course; if I'm wrong at all, please, just kiss me to shut me up."

Cessy whipped her gaze back up to meet Penny's.

"What?"

Penny realized what she had just said. It appeared to Cecily that once Penny had consumed enough, the wine also began to do the talking for her. She partially covered her mouth. But she knew Cessy had heard her right.

"Um...I said...if I'm wrong at all, just hiss at me. And I'll just shut right up."

Their minds had clouded a bit. And a bit was almost all it took. Cecily pulled her feet up onto the sofa and inched on her.

"No, you didn't."

Penelope set her own wine glass down. "Well, but, um, Cesse..."

Cecily batted her eyelashes at her. "Yes?" she murmured sweetly.

Penny had to choose her words very carefully. Cecily was again resting her hands on Penelope's body, which was now beginning to become a little excited.

"Cesse, we may or may not be about to do something that we may or may not refwet," she half-warned and half-slurred.

Cesse smiled at her verbal slip-up. She dabbed and tickled Penny's nose tip.

"You're cute when you talk goofy," she purred. "Do it again."

Penny's heart beat faster. "Yeah, but, C—...C-Cesse, this c—...this could be a mispake."

Cesse giggled. "You're so adorable, Penny." The next she caressed was Penny's soft pinkish-reddened cheek.

"Oh my gosh," Penny gushed, becoming immensely turned on inside. "Oh, Cesse...you're so pretty...and you're so striking...but I'm...I'm just not sure about...a-about doing something we may remember in the morning."

Cesse shook her head, suffusing Penny with sweet seduction.

"Morning doesn't matter, Penny," she uttered to her, permeating the atmosphere with as much sexy flirtation as she could muster with her voice, tone and expression. "The rest of this night doesn't matter. Not even the next five minutes. Right now, Penny, all that matters is just that: right now. And you and I. And that's all."

Penelope felt herself gasp as Cesse swept her hand over her torso, ever so lightly grazing her supple breast through her soft blue sweater, in which she was suddenly beginning to feel very warm.

Cecily edged in on her, nearing her inviting ear, half-protected by her silky hair.

"Let yourself go with me, Penny," she heard Cesse whisper. Her eyes closed.

Her hand reached for Cesse's waiting body, as the space between them continued to narrow and close.

Penny could bear no longer to wait or protest.

"Just let...yourself...go..."

Before she knew what was happening, Penny could do nothing but obey.

***

November 26th, 7:11 p.m.

The first kiss was every last bit as intoxicating as the sweet, exotic vintage that led to it. Holding her like a baby in her embrace, Cecily gingerly but passionately brought her wine-tinted lips to Penny's own, and Penny's mind surrendered, giving way to the flood of romance that crashed over her. She slid downwards horizontally onto the sofa, and pulled Cesse longingly to her.

A happy feeling of pleasure too swam through Cesse's deepest reaches. With their lips melded together, the alluring scent of the oenoperfume floated into their nostrils and dazed their senses for an exquisite combination. Their bodies heaved into one another as the kiss ran course. Hot doses of love pulsed through both of their hearts. Their lips peeled apart out of need for oxygen. Mutual hot breath wafted over their soft, flushed feminine skin.

Cecily's nipples twitched and nudged their ways closer to the edges of her bathrobe. She wanted to free her perked-up breasts, but she didn't want to remove her arms from around Penny's curvy, enticing frame. Penny's breasts were also vastly enjoying the company of Cesse's ballooning up against them. Erotic heat radiated through them and tingled to the last nerve endings of their extremities. Finally, they temporarily pried their lips completely off each other.

Cesse nuzzled and tickled Penelope's cheek with her nose.

"Mmm...I like it here," she stated in a sultry whisper.

"I like having you here," came the steamy reply.

They alternated whispering sweet nothings to each other and pecking and nipping at one another's cheek.

"Penny for your thoughts," Cecily heard her murmur into her ear.

Cessy giggled. "How many people have you used that one on?"

"Believe it or not...just you."

A big, beautiful smile spread across Cecily's face. She felt special.

"This one's a little harder to pull off, but...

"...I could very well see myself becoming ob-'Cesse'ed with you," she whisper-giggled back.

Penny tossed her head back and laughed heartily. Cesse could tell she found her inane little pun genuinely funny. The way she laughed made Cecily fall in love with her just a little tiny bit. She felt truly both charmed and blessed.

"And that's because a Penny saved is a Penny earned," she added.

Penelope removed her arms from around Cesse and rested one hand on her cheek, running the other through her hair.

"That has a more truthful meaning than it may have seemed at first, my friend."

Their hearts just about burst through their chests. All four lips came together once more in sublime passion. Lying on top of Penny, Cesse tightened her grip on her with her arms, slipped her soft bare feet under Penny's leg below her and gam-hugged her. It was true. She had very possibly saved Penny's life those eleven years ago, and now she had earned the grandest of reciprocations. Cecily's tongue discreetly approached Penny's and asked it to dance. Penny's tongue graciously accepted.

There was something part of Cesse very much wanted to say after the next kiss, but she wasn't sure if she should. She didn't know if it was the right time. So she simply added a few words to it, and said that.

"I love making out with you," she purred.

"I'm having quite a bit of fun as well," Penny cooed back. "Remarkable for someone I just met for the first time today."

"Not true," Cesse reminded her.

Penny nodded. "Oh, that's right."

"You know what else is funny too?" Cessy asked. "You also remind me of this little playmate I had when I was about five or so. She lived just a few doors down from me. I used to go over her house and we'd do stuff like crawl under the bed together and mess around and tickle each other's feet and stuff. But she moved away when we were still little. I really missed her."

Penny stared at her wordlessly for a few moments. She didn't even blink.

"...Street name?...On the count of three?"

Cecily gazed back at her, wide-eyed.

Penny mouthed—

"One...two...three."

They whispered in unison.

"Sequoia Avenue."

Perfectly flawless silence followed. Neither woman moved, spoke, breathed or blinked. Finally, Cesse shook her head.

"You know what?...This is just too...I-I...

"I am not even going to marvel uncontrollably about how blindingly...unreal this is, Miss Penny James.

"Since it is by now patently obvious that fate has been knocking its brains out for decades trying to thrust us together—and keep us together—I am merely going to resume kissing you, and then, I am going to proceed to crazy-glue our hands together."

Penny chuckled. "Um...gosh, Cesse, uh...th—"

"Okay, okay, clearly, I was kidding about the crazy-glue thing," Cesse amended. "Regular ol' Elmer's should work just fine."

Penelope giggled again. She softly made love to Cesse's eyes with her own twinkling, sparkling baby greens.

"Cesse..."

Cecily crinkled her own amber-colored eyes. Penny went on.

"...My Aunt Tracy is flying in to see me tomorrow from San Francisco. She's about the only living relative I have left—well, that I know of. Anyway, I'd love for you to stay and spend Thanksgiving with us."

"Oh, how sweet!" Cesse replied, pecking Penny's lips.

Penny pecked her back. "So that's a yes?"

"Well, of course. I'm certainly glad you invited me, 'cause I figured and hoped I was staying anyway!" Cecily laughed.

A moment later, they were thirsty again. They sat up, finished the wine, and Penny pushed herself to her feet.

She held out her hand. "Shall we, darling?"

Cecily delicately granted Penny her hand. Penny kissed it and pulled her too off the sofa. With a seductive glance back and a cock of the head, she led Cesse by the hand up the stairs and showed her to the master. It crossed her mind to say something naughty, such as, "You've been a very bad girl. Now you're going to my room!" But she didn't. She wanted tonight to be special and beautiful, and she hoped Cesse did too. She'd save rogue naughtiness for another time.

Besides, if she tried to say anything on her current B.A.L. right now, it would probably come out completely garbled up. It was very fortunate they made it to the master bed when they did, because they were beginning to stagger.

They tumbled into the enormous mattress trying to balance their falls with just the right amount of joie de vivre to keep the romance aflame and not risk any injuries. They flipped the comforter up from underneath and dragged it over themselves. Once they were snug, cozy and settled in, they took one another's faces in their hands.

"Oh," murmured Penny, as if they were meeting for the first time. "Well, hi there."

Cessy smiled. "Why, fancy meeting you here, stranger."

Their next kiss refreshed the wine in their senses. Cesse was still wearing only Penny's pink robe. Penny was starting to sweat in her aptly named upper garment, and the perspiration glands in her feet were activated as well. She let go of Cecily's cheeks, reached down, whipped off her socks and put the kiss on pause to yank her sweater up and off over her head. A light cotton short-sleeved top lay underneath. Cesse delighted in the way her blonde hair messily floated back down over her face.