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  Love Times Four

  Four lesbian women, four relationships, and four stories; who will fall in love—and stay in love—despite the extraordinary events that threaten to destroy them? Meet Emma, a teacher who valiantly tries to ignore the crush she has on her new, seemingly-straight principal.

  And meet Val, a strong-willed woman, relationship-shy artist who falls in love with a police detective.

  Then there's Tia, who struggles with her feelings for a single mother and her child, and who tries desperately to simply, be 'friends'

  And finally meet Anna, who meets the woman of her dreams—and may lose her in a horrifying hostage situation.

  Four brave women look for love—find love—and must decide just how much they are willing to sacrifice for love.

  Prologue

  "I'm sorry I'm late! My meeting ran overly long." A tiny dark-haired woman rushed up to a table of a well populated restaurant where three other women sat visiting. A whirlwind of energy, she sat down quickly grinning impishly at them. No one could be irritated by her entrance. She made complete strangers smile at her good looks and her movements. To an observer, all four of the young women seated at the table looked like very stylish and successful professionals. The newly arrived woman slid into the fourth open chair.

  "Tia, you're always late." A very fashionable blond woman teased her affectionately as she responded. It was obvious by the look on her face she was amused by the woman who flew in. "We ordered a drink for you."

  "Thanks." The dark haired bundle of energy called Tia grinned at the other occupants of the table. "Okay, who goes first?" She rattled away as she took a sip from the waiting glass of wine. Her smile glistened as her eyes slid from one woman to the other. Anyone watching would know that these women cared deeply for each other.

  This was their monthly get together where they all caught up on each other's activities and shared their lives. They sought advice, helped each other with their problems, and loved each other unconditionally. They'd all been best friends since their early twenties and were still as close as ever. Tia, the last to arrive, was a very dainty, dark haired woman who stood no taller then five feet. Her diminutive size was in direct contrast with her capabilities. She moved quickly, worked hard, and loved deeply. Her black hair fell straight to her shoulders glistening with good health. Her eyes were large and as dark as her hair, humor and honesty in their expression. It was obvious from her coloring that she looked just like her Hispanic father, her mother being as blond as blue-eyed as a person could get. Tia was fond of saying with a laugh, that the only thing she received from her mother was her sense of humor. Her professional outfit consisted of a bright red stylish jacket and skirt and was an indication of her terrific sense of style. Years earlier she graduated with honors from the University of Washington with a degree in communications. She now held a prestigious job as head of corporate communications for a very large fortune five hundred company. She worked hard and paid her dues to get where she was. She loved her job and all it entailed. Her capabilities, unending energy, and professionalism made her well regarded at work.

  Seated to Tia's right was Annabel McNeil, Anna to her friends. She wore her hair short, a light brown that, despite any attempts to be controlled, waved and curled attractively about her head. She had hazel eyes, which were always crinkled with laughter. Anna's looks and her openness was the first thing you noticed about her. Adding a strong work ethic and loyalty, it made her a good employee and an irreplaceable friend. She wore a pair of jeans, a yellow silk shirt, and a brown suede jacket. She currently worked as a mechanical engineer at the Boeing plant in Everett.

  Across the table sat two other women, a shorthaired blonde, and a brunette with long hair. Both women looked like they'd stepped off of a fashion magazine. Van Terino wore her white blond hair extremely short and it stood up in stylish spikes. On some women it would have appeared masculine, but Van was far from that. She had large, sky blue eyes surrounded by thick lashes, her full mouth smiling, as she sipped a glass of water. Van's clothing was eye-catching with a skintight pair of black pants and a royal blue tunic jacket. She was a very talented commercial artist who currently worked at a popular advertising agency in Seattle as an account representative. She was romantic, generous, and very creative.

  The fourth woman sat quietly watching the threesome. Emma Sharp worked as a counselor in a downtown junior high school in Seattle. It had been her dream to counsel young students, and she took it very seriously and did it well. She loved quickly and ferociously, her friends being first and foremost. She was dressed in a light beige pants outfit with a cream colored shell. Her eyes were a golden brown, an odd combination with her very long, wavy, dark hair. Her eyes were so light gold that it was the first thing you noticed about her. You also couldn't skip the fact that she stood almost six feet tall, a very shapely six feet. She was an impossible woman to ignore.

  Just one of the four would capture someone's attention. They exuded a natural kind of sex appeal that drew your eyes to them. These women were very comfortable with who and what they were. A table with the four of them was bound to attract undo attention in the busy upscale restaurant, bustling with patrons. A popular spot in Seattle, the restaurant afforded a good view of the waterfront, and excellent food.

  "Ladies, a table of men over there would like to buy all of you a drink." The waiter interrupted the start of their visit. He grinned at the four appealing women. He wasn't immune to their sex appeal.

  Van snorted with impatience and started to make a pithy response when Emma interrupted her. "Tell them thanks, but no thanks." Emma was a peacemaker and she had read the reaction on Van's face accurately. Van was always clear and to the point, but not always tactful. Emma loved that about her, but knew at times it wasn't welcomed by others.

  "Anna, how's work going?" Tia was determined not to acknowledge the interruption. She had better things to do.

  "Good, very busy. I could work every weekend if I wanted to."

  "I'm sure Michael would love that." Van teased her with a hug, drawing a blush of embarrassment from Anna. "The two of you just moved in together."

  There wasn't much they couldn't talk about to each other, but Anna was shy and blushed easily. Van enjoyed teasing her. "You and Michael are doing well?"

  "Our life is perfect. I just can't believe that everything has worked out so well." Anna's face indicated her happiness. Her eyes glistening with tears and her voice trembled with emotion. Anna's emotions were always close to the surface. Anyone who took the time to watch Anna carefully knew exactly what she was feeling. Her soft, gentle features and serious eyes gave away her every thought. She was a loving and gracious person.

  "It's amazing that a little over a year ago we were all single." Emma reminded the foursome.

  As the four of them grinned in memory, Tia chuckled quietly as she spoke. "And it all started with you." She clasped hands with Van and Emma, who in turn clasped Anna's as they gazed happily at each other.

  Emma couldn't help but laugh with enjoyment. All four women had something wonderful in common. They were all lesbians who had found their soul mates within the past year, a year of upsets, conflicts, and so much love.

  Chapter Two

  Emma

  "Emma, you met our new principal yet?"

  "No, and I haven't seen anyone in the office." Chuck Sounder flopped down in the old wood chair across from Emma's desk, the only open chair in her office. Chuck taught Humanities and English at the junior high school and Emma had worked with him for over five years. They were colleagues and friends. He wore comfortable Dockers and a tee shirt, matching Emma's casual dress. They were the only two people in the school besides the janitor.

  "No one seems to know anything abo
ut her but her name. I know she's been working with the district office all summer. You'd think we'd have heard something."

  Emma remained seated at her battered wood desk in her tiny office. She often thought with her height alone, she should get a larger office. It was an eight by ten cubicle holding her desk, an equally battered file cabinet, and chair. She did have one window that faced the front entrance of her school which afforded her a little light and fresh air. It might have been small, but Emma wouldn't change a thing. She did good work in it, and it was all hers.

  "Chuck, no one gets to be a principal without a lot of hard work." She reminded him as she poured herself a fresh cup of coffee.

  "Thank you for that compliment, and who do I have the pleasure of meeting?"

  Both Emma and Chuck turned with surprise at the sound of a deep feminine voice that had a trace of humor laced through it. The woman who spoke was standing directly behind Chuck. She carried a battered old briefcase in one hand, a beat up Starbucks coffee cup in her other one. Her dress was eye catching and summer stylish, with brilliant flowers on a white background. She had light brown hair that was pulled back in a loose bun at the base of her neck.

  She managed to look professional and a little sexy. She grinned at Chuck and Emma as they both peered guiltily at her.

  "My name is Chuck Sounder and this is Emma Sharp." Chuck stood up as he spoke.

  "Hello, it's nice to meet the two of you. I'm Melinda Newcasde, your new mystery principal." The woman chuckled as she spoke, obviously unfazed by Emma's earlier comment. "I didn't realize that the staff was back. You aren't due for two more weeks."

  "Chuck and I are the only ones here." Emma volunteered as she gazed up at the tall slender woman.

  "Well, it's nice to know we have two such dedicated people working here." Her smile was genuine as she spoke to Chuck and Emma. "Now, I think that my office is somewhere down here."

  "It's straight down the hall." Emma smiled again at the attractive woman as she pointed in the direction of the principal's office.

  "Do I smell coffee?"

  "Yes, I have a fresh pot. Would you like some?"

  "Do you mind? I think I'm going to love living in Seattle. Everywhere you go there is such wonderful coffee!" There was a very slight southern accent that lingered in Melinda's voice adding a lyrical quality to it.

  "Emma makes terrific coffee." Chuck reassured her with a grin as Melinda entered the office, her slightly worse for wear coffee cup held out in front of her.

  The office was small with all three of them in it but you couldn't miss the pictures of famous men and women, along side quotes and affirmations covering the walls. Anyone who entered the room knew at once that the occupant cared a lot about the students she counseled, and that they would be safe and well cared for. It represented Emma very well.

  "I have my own coffeepot so I don't have to leave my office. My students need to be able to find me." Emma explained as she proceeded to fill Melinda and Chuck's coffee cups. She felt it was very important to stay available to her kids.

  Melinda took a large sip of her coffee. "This is heavenly." She sighed deeply, a look of pleasure on her face. "Can you teach me to brew this good coffee?"

  Emma couldn't help but smile at the interesting woman grinning over her mangled coffee cup. She wasn't as tall as Emma, since Emma stood a hair under six feet, but she looked Emma almost straight in the eye. "I can teach you." Emma promised.

  "Good. Thank you. Now, I need to go get some work done." With one last smile to Emma and Chuck, she turned and left Emma's office, walking rapidly in the direction of her office.

  "Wow, she's a knockout." Chuck blurted out as he watched Melinda disappear into her office.

  "She is that." Emma admitted with almost a guilty feeling, finding herself tingling with attraction from less then ten minutes of contact with Melinda. How inappropriate was that? She sat quickly down at her desk.

  "Chuck, get out of here so I can get some work done."

  "Okay, okay. Do you want to get a bite to eat at lunch?" Chuck lounged in the doorway.

  "Sounds good." Emma's responded distracted by her thoughts.

  "Great. I'll meet you here around noon." Chuck shuffled out of her office in the direction of his classroom.

  Emma settled down and began to concentrate on her work in front of her. She had a lot to complete in preparation for the start of the school year and Emma was always prepared. An hour and a half later a knock on her door interrupted her.

  "Could I beg another cup of that wonderful coffee from you?" Melinda stood in the doorway smiling, her plastic travel mug out in front of her.

  "Sure." Emma turned and grabbed the pot.

  "What's your secret?"

  "It's the coffee. I buy whole beans and grind them just before I brew a pot. It keeps it fresher. The coffee is French Vanilla."

  "Well, it's the best coffee I have ever tasted." Melinda sipped from the full cup.

  "Thank you."

  "So, you're the very popular guidance counselor. I've heard nothing but wonderful things about you and your work."

  Emma blushed heavily. "I love my job."

  "It shows from your reputation. It's obvious your students love you in return. I've been reading your career week program and I'm impressed. You've quite a collection of people willing to donate their time."

  "There's a lot of good people in Seattle. I'm just lucky I find so many willing to donate their time."

  "I don't think luck has anything to do with it. You must be very persuasive." Melinda chuckled as she turned to leave.

  "Would you like to join Chuck and me when we go for lunch? We're just going up the road to a little deli for a quick bite." Emma had hesitated slightly before blurting her question. She wasn't normally so tentative but for some reason Melinda made her a little nervous.

  "I'd love to. I'm barely able to find my way to work and to the store. It's going to take me awhile to get settled in Seattle. It's so much different from where I came from." Melinda stood in the doorway.

  "Where's that?"

  "Originally from Atlanta, more recently from Portland."

  "I detected a slight southern accent."

  "Ah honey, I can sound just like a good ole southern gal." Melinda teased, her voice dripping with Georgia servility.

  "Wow that would melt the bones of just about anyone." Emma sighed with a smile.

  "Darlin’, I wouldn't try to melt the bones of any old person." Melinda's eyes twinkled at Emma as she turned away and started back down the empty hall.

  Emma had to blink her eyes twice just to make sure she'd heard her correctly. "We'll be leaving for lunch around noon." She called out loudly.

  "Great. I'll meet you here at twelve." Melinda's voice echoed down the empty corridor.

  Emma sat down quickly after Melinda left her office. She wasn't quite sure how to take Melinda's teasing. She couldn't know Emma was gay. Not that Emma was worried about her job. Everyone knew she was a lesbian. She'd never kept it a secret or denied it. She just didn't flaunt it. Besides, she didn't report to the principal. Her supervisor was located at school district headquarters. This was a fairly new system implemented two years earlier to make sure school counselors were focused on the health of their students and not on the politics of the school administration. Politics tended to get in the way of education at times and Emma avoided politicking at all costs. She liked the system very much. Her students would always come first to her, and that sometimes put Emma in a precarious position with the administration. Emma was committed to her student's welfare

  Emma once again put her head down and concentrated on her work. In two weeks all hell would break loose when school started and she needed to make sure she was completely prepared. She needed to get a lot accomplished before then. She offered much more to her students than counseling. She provided career development, charity work, community projects, and anything else she thought her students might receive value from. She was usually one of the f
irst to arrive and the last to leave when school was in session.

  "Emma lunch time." Chuck burst into her office and once again slumped in her chair.

  "Good. I'm starved. We just need to wait for Melinda. I invited her to go with us."

  "Great." Chuck played with Emma's Rubik's cube while Emma continued to work. Within moments Melinda joined them and the three of them headed out for lunch. It was a quick trip to the restaurant in Chuck's SUV.

  "What brought you to Seattle?" Chuck asked through a mouthful of his chicken salad sandwich while the three of them sat at a table at the local restaurant. They chose to sit outside to take advantage of the beautiful summer day.

  "I've liked Seattle since I moved to Portland eight years ago. When this job opportunity became available it just seemed like the right thing to do."

  "Do you have a family?"