Chapter 1:You’re my Boss?

It all really started the first week of August 2018, when my friend Tina wanted to go out from a rare night of fun. I maybe had had two or three girls night outs since Cash's death in 2014, but the twins go to his parents every other weekend just about because I still want them involved in their lives. And I was thinking why not, summer is almost over.

Tina picked me up at about 6:30.

“Where are we going?” I asked Tina as we pulled out of my driveway for a rare girls night.

“Let’s go to Sue Ellen's in Dallas.” Tina suggested.

“Isn’t that a gay bar? For women?” I questioned.

“Let’s see how many women hit on you!” Tina laughed jokingly.

“Stop it!” I laughed. Tina seemed to thinks that I look like Barbie, and that all the men always hit on me when we go out and wanted to see what women would do. Plus, they were offering 50% drinks.

“ The drinks are half off all week!” Tina said. "And I'll pay!"

“ Okay, but if it’s weird.we’re leaving!” I said unsure because I had never been to a place like that, and didn't think I had an attraction for women.

“Deal!” Tina agreed.

As we entered Sue Ellen's, the place was pretty packed, but we managed to get two seats at the bar. I glanced around to see if I noticed anything or anyone, but then I remembered that this was for all women. 3 different women had asked for my number or to buy me a drink by the end of the first hour.

“Once again you're on roll!” Tina laughed . “As usual.”

“ too bad they aren’t good looking rich men!” I smiled shyly. I just didn’t think I was interested in women and really wasn’t looking for a relationship with anyone.

Then, suddenly, out of the corner of my eye, there she was.... I noticed a well dressed and attractive woman. She was my height, petite , had long dark brown wavy hair and chocolate brown eyes. She had on black dress slacks, a dark purple business blouse, and black high heels. She did not look like she belonged in a bar. She glanced over and smiled at me.

“Are you checking her out?” Tina nudged her.

“She doesn’t look like she belongs here.” I said.

“ maybe she is just having a drink after work… they are supercheap!” Tina explained. The lady seemed to disappear for a minute, but then after space was free, she slid in the seat next to me.

“Hi… I’m Kasey!” The woman said, holding out her hand. “ can I buy you another drink?” I shook her hand and told her my name and said sure she could buy me a drink. Tina got up and walked to a different area in the bar. Kasey explained that she had recently changed jobs and was building a house in the area. She didn’t say anything about her job, but neither did I. My mom is an assistant superintendent at a Texas small town school where I happen to teach 4th grade, there was no way anyone would know that I was at a lesbian bar goofing around I thought.

“What brings you here?” I asked Kasey.

“Honestly in between starting my job and moving, I just needed a night off.so, I decided to go have a drink. This place pulled up on my phone GPS as a half off drink special, so I thought I’d try it.” Kasey explained.

“ Yeah my friend thought it would be fun! I’ve never been to a place like this.” I explained.

Kasey had never been to a gay bar either, but had admitted that she was never opposed to having a girlfriend. She had been divorced for 2 years and didn’t think she could trust a man ever again. Maybe she would connect better with a woman. She was curious, but had never met the right person.

We talked and laughed for a long time. By 11:00, Tina was ready to call it a night. But I was having so much fun hanging out with Kasey that I didn't want to leave.

“Why don’t you come over to my apartment that I’m renting until my house is built? I could make us some coffee?” Kasey suggested. "I don't live far..."

I honestly don't know what came over me...

“Okay..yeah. That sounds great!” I said rather quickly. There was something about Kasey that I seemed to have a lot in common with...little did I know just how much. Tina hesitated letting me go with a stranger, but since I felt so confident and comfortable with Kasey, she felt like it was safe, and told us good night. So, I got into Kasey’s shiny new looking black tahoe, and we headed to the apartment. At the apartment, the conversation picked up more. Kasey made coffee, and we sat on her couch.

“Where did you say you worked again?” I asked.

“Oh..umm. In an office…” Kasey didn’t go into much detail.

“What do you do?” I was curious.

“I’m just in charge of a bunch of..let’s say little people.” Kasey said. “I actually officially start next week. I am the new boss….what about you?”

“Me? Oh...guess you could that I manage people...not really a boss, just a manager.” That’s as detailed as I went.

“Well..a manager is a type of boss..”Kasey said.

“I guess you’re right.” I smiled. I sort of felt like a vive with Kasey that I liked. She just gave off this great energy. I seriously thought that I had just met a new best friend. We talked for hours and lost complete track of time.

Then, we got quiet for a minute, and I found myself staring into Kasey’s eyes. Before I knew it, Kasey took her hand out and put a piece of my blonde hair behind my ear. After that, she leaned in and softly kissed me on the lips. I found myself kissing her back. But I didn't really know what was happening or what had come over me.

Suddenly…RING! RING!RING!! ….We pulled apart. Kasey's phone was going off.

“What’s that?” I asked.

“OMG! It’s my alarm...it’s 7 am! I have to get ready for work!” she replied.

“It’s 7am! Wait what day is it?” I started to panic. Time had definitely gotten away from me.

“It’s Friday.” Kasey said.

“ Wait...I thought you didn’t start work till next week.” I replied.

“I don’t, but I’m meeting my boss today to work on something. Can I take you home?” Kasey asked.

“Oh. no...Tina can come get me. I had a great night. Thanks for the coffee and conversation.” I smiled. Tina had told me to text at anytime since she was off on Fridays.

“It was wonderful meeting you. I’m going to hop in the shower. Leave your number on the frig. Maybe we can hang out again soon.” Kasey smiled.

“Sounds good.I had a great time." I answered. So, I wrote down my number, then walked down the hall, took the elevator, and went to the front of the building to wait for Tina. But you know what? I blocked the kiss out of my mind and never told Tina or anyone about it. At the time, I wasn’t sure what it meant, and I knew I wasn’t into women. Although Kasey seemed different. After Tina dropped me off at my house, I grabbed a quick shower, and was just about to doze off to sleep….

“Bing!” My phone received a text. It was my mom,

“Remember you’re helping me welcome the new principal, she starts today! Meet me there in half an hour……” …."oh and don’t be late!”

I had almost forgotten. I rushed to get ready and threw on my blue jean skirt and bright pink shirt and sandals. I tossed my blonde hair in a messy bun and rushed out the door. I splashed some quick makeup on in the car, but brushed mascara on my cheek as I hit a bump. I pulled into the school parking lot just as my mom was stepping out of her Range Rover.

“Honestly! Natty you could’ve done your hair!” My mom, Susan Akins groaned.

When we got inside, Kasey was nervously standing in the front office, although she acted super confident in her white pants suit, glasses, and long wavy dark brown hair. She even wore a pair of pearls to accent her outfit and pair of black heels. I didn't notice her at first because I was behind my mom and sipping my Starbucks.

“Kasey! How are you? Are you ready?” Mom asked.

“Of course! I’m excited and looking forward to a great year,but I hear that I’ve got big shoes to fill!” Kasey smiled confidently holding her coffee mug.

“I’d like you to meet my daughter! She’s one of your 4th grade ELAR teachers, Natalie Akins.” Mom said.

I slowly took off my sunglasses to shake my new boss’s hand, but found myself staring into the eyes of the 1st woman that I had ever kissed and just my luck, it happened to be my1st ever real boss! Kasey looked into my eyes and SMASH! Her coffee went everywhere, and I dropped my Starbucks.

“Oh my goodness! I am so sorry! I’m a bit clumsy today. Emma will you call the custodians?” Kasey said.

I just stood there. (Kasey told me that could not believe that she had picked up her boss's daughter at a bar the night before. She tried to brush things aside and act as professional as possible. She thought maybe if she wouldn’t bring it up, then neither would I. She said that she knew one thing was going to happen, she was not going to pursue things further with me.)

“ So nice to meet you…. I look forward to a great year… “ Kasey replied. “Ummm… you’ve got a little something…” Kasey motioned at the mascara smudge on my cheek.

“Oh Umm…” I tried to wipe it, but didn't quite get it all.

“Here let me…” Kasey gently takes her thumb and wipes away the rest of the smudge. “There!” She smiles. We felt a spark! A connection! Her touch felt nice, and the way we looked at each other was different... But we both knew we had to leave it alone.

“Really! Natalie! What has gotten into you? First the coffee, now the makeup! You’re a mess! Were you putting on makeup in your car again? I promise she’s not the hot mess she’s acting like right now!” Mom explained. “She’s an amazing little teacher.”

“Hey it’s still summer! I get it.” Kasey says nervously as she gives me a wink, still feeling the connection. I smiled and quickly headed upstairs to get some work done while Kasey and Mom went over procedures for the school year. I couldn't wait to get out of there.

A couple of hours later Kasey knocked on my classroom door…

“You’re mom went to grab us lunch….I’m sorry…” she started.

But I cut her off… “You said you worked in an office! And were the boss of little people…”

“Technically… you could say that,” Kasey smiled.

“Okay..I get it now.” I half smiled.

“What about you!? You said you were a manager.” Kasey said.

“Well.. I manage children and curriculum and school things...So Listen my mom can’t know about this or even that I was in a bar!” I explained. My parents and family were well known in this small town, and I knew it would be an issue.

“Oh absolutely! I agree 100%! Let’s just be professional and put last night behind us.” Kasey agreed. I knew we could not even be friends. My mother always said never mix business with pleasure and the school was my business. She always said keep the relationships and conversations professional.

During lunch we enjoy chatting about our kids and goals for the upcoming year. I found out that she had a third grader and 1st grader starting at our school and a 3 year old at home. I explained that had twin girls starting pre- k. Nothing else was ever brought up about the night before. Kasey asked me if I was interested in being team lead and helping implement some new ideas to the school. My mom had never had team leads before, so I didn't really understand the purpose, but I agreed that I’d help out anyway I could. This made Mom very proud.

“See she wasn’t so bad.” Mom said as we were leaving. She had no idea just how horrible it was for me, but I tried to downplay it.

“She’s not you mom.” I said quietly.

“I know but I’ll still be around…. and more than you think!” she encouraged.

“ I just wished the girls could’ve had their nana as principal next year.” I explained.

“ I know, but I’ll definitely be around for their pre-k year and every year after…. I’m proud you agreed to help her out.” Mom said. I just smiled, hoping for a great school year, and I got more than I could have ever imagined.