Those Memories Made on Teardrop Lake – (25) New to Life and Christmas Too

In Coopers Hill Cottage on a cold, damp and foggy December afternoon Angelika Schmeltz and Megan Thomas lay naked beneath the duvet of the formers King-size bed.

And in its cosiness they were both silently contemplating their situation and reflecting that it was not how they had envisaged the day panning out.

Angelika was holding Megan, who had her head on her new lover’s chest.

It was Megan who finally broke the silence when she said

“That was quite a surprise”

“Which part?” Angelika asked

“All of it” she replied “but it was a very nice surprise”

“Which part?” Angelika asked

“All of it” she replied and giggled

“I’d never done it before” She confessed, in fact Megan had never done anything before, with anyone, she was a virgin in every conceivable sense of the word.

She hadn’t even touched herself very much.

“I know sweetie” Angelika said

“Do you mind?” the novice asked

“No of course not” she replied “You do know that I’ve done it before?”

“God yes” she replied and giggled again

“But I didn’t know you were a ….”

Angelika chuckled and kissed her forehead and said

“A lesbian”

“That’s right, because I automatically assumed Charlie was a man”

Megan explained.

Charlie was Angelika’s partner of 25 years until she died.

“Are you disappointed?” she asked

“What with?” Megan replied with another question

“The fact that I’m a Lesbian” answered Angelika

“Are you kidding? After what we just did?”

They both giggled and then Meg kissed Angel with warmth and passion.

“You realise that this means you are a Lesbian too now?” 

“Really?” she asked “How exotic”

And she cuddled up closer still to her lover.

“What would my mother say?”

“Do you care?” Angelika asked

“Not for a second”

They lay quiet again for a few minutes before Megan said sheepishly

“I do have one question though”

“What’s that sweetie?” Angel asked

“I was just wondering when we might um…” she began

“You were wondering what?” she asked suspiciously

“Well when we could do it again?” she asked and buried her face in Angel’s chest to hide her embarrassment

“You little hussy” she said

“I know” Megan said without lifting her head

“Well as it’s a foggy afternoon and we’re all cosy warm in bed already I suppose we could do it again right now”

“Oooh smashing” Megan purred “I like the sound of that”

 

In the six months since her mother’s death, Megan Thomas had changed beyond all recognition.

She had moved to Teardrop Lake to fulfil a lifelong dream to live in the country, and she had fulfilled several other dreams along the way.

She was now the proud owner of a dog called Skipper, a car which she named Harrison, because it was a Ford, and a TV.

All things that her mother heartily disapproved of.

However at the age of 47 and with no life experience, the one thing she had dared not dream of was falling in love.

And quite frankly if she had thought of it at all or even if she had dreamt about falling in love, she doubted that that dream would have been to fall in love with a woman, and yet it happened anyway.

And was something else Mother would have disapproved of.

Angelika Schmeltz on the other hand hadn’t dreamt of falling in love for a very different reason.

She had closed her heart to it, and drawn a line under such emotions.

For the five years since the death of her long term lover Charlie she never thought of love for a second.

It wasn’t just that she was reluctant to fall in love, she merely accepted that that chapter of her life was over and done with because she felt when Charlie died, part of her died too, and that she would never find another mate who would measure up to her.

And then she met a funny little red head wandering the woods with an American Cocker Spaniel and she felt alive again.

When Charlie passed, Angelika had pledged never to love again to protect herself against another broken heart.

But that was like living a half-life, yes there might be pain but the joy far outweighed the risk.

 

Since Megan had moved to Teardrop Lake she had discovered that life was actually rather wonderful.

She also discovered that there were things worth watching on Television and that there were some things in life that were even more enjoyable than “It’s a Wonderful Life”

One of them was Christmas and one of them very definitely wasn’t.

 

A couple of days after they kissed beneath the mistletoe and ended up making love.

Angelika managed to get Megan out of bed long enough to take her into Abbottsford to do some Christmas shopping.

“I’ve never been Christmas shopping before” Megan said

“Well there were several other things you had never done before and you seem to have mastered those quite nicely sweetie” Angelika said and Megan went Santa Red and giggled.

 

It was only a week from the big day and Angelika was unaccustomed to leaving it so late.

She liked to get things done early but she had got out of the habit.

It had been a long, long time since she had had to buy presents for anyone special.

But now she did have someone special to buy for so she took Megan into to Abbottsford to the Phoenix Shopping Centre.

The centre had been dressed for Christmas in tinsel and foil and twinkling lights almost since the beginning of October.

“My Goodness” Meg said “It’s huge”

“It is rather” Angelika agreed

“Have you never been here before?”

Megan began to speak but Angelika interrupted her

“That was a silly question wasn’t it?”

Megan nodded

“So look around and remember where you are and we will meet back here in an hour and a half” Angelika said

“Can’t we go around together?” Meg asked sounding very small

“Well not really Hun” Angel said “as we’re buying for each other, they are supposed to be surprises”

“Oh yes I see what you mean” she said she was going to add sorry but I’m new to this but Angelika took hold of her hand and kissed her which gave her strength.

“Ok then back here at 11.30” she said and they went their separate ways.

 

Angelika knew where she was going first, she knew exactly what main present to get for her.

So that wasn’t a problem, it was the little extras, the stocking fillers that took the time, those little things that made Christmas morning extra special.

 

For Megan it was yet another new thing she had to experience.

Because her mother Edith, didn’t believe in the commercial side of the holiday there were never any presents, no frivolity or festivities.

So no need for Christmas shopping, wrapping paper or gift tags. 

They celebrated Christmas to the extent that they ate Christmas dinner and went to the Church services but only the religious side of the season was ever observed.

Church, faith and her love of books were the only thing she retained from her old life.

Everything else was new and fresh and rather wonderful.

So having never done Christmas before, buying presents and treats was totally alien to her and she didn’t know where to start.

Until she passed a dazzling shop window that held her entranced.

“That’s absolutely perfect” she said and her eyes fixed on the prize.

They were to meet back where they had started at 11.30, Angelika was there first and Megan trotted up about five minutes later.

“I thought I’d lost you” Angelika said

“Sorry, I lost track of time” she said “It’s very exciting isn’t it?”

“Yes it is” Angelika replied and smiled at the little redhead loaded with bags.

“Once I got started I didn’t know how to stop” Megan said and giggled

“You’re really lovely” Angel said and kissed her

 

They went and had Coffee and a cake in the food court and assessed their progress.

It transpired they only had to get paper and bows and a few etcetera’s so they went off together to complete the shopping before they went home.

 

When they got back to Shallowfield they dropped off their respective purchases at their respective homes and took their respective excited dogs for a good long walk.

Then they went back to Megs to watch the Matinee “The Shop around the Corner”

And at the end of the film both women were in tears again

“That was another brilliant one” Megan said and then started laughing

“What are you laughing at?” Angelika asked

“Well the last time we watched a James Stewart film together I discovered I was a Lesbian” she said “And I just wondered what I was going to discover this time”

And then they were both laughing hysterically.

 

The week between the exciting Christmas shopping trip and Christmas itself was spent in the way that had become their accustomed manner.

Watching more classic films, and taking more long walks in the woods with the dogs and of course being cosy beneath Angelika’s duvet.

But in addition to the customary activities there were also presents to wrap, another first for Megan.

She had neither given nor received a gift in her entire life.

 

On Christmas Eve, Megan drove “Harrison” down to St Mary’s Church, she hadn’t been a regular at the Church since she’d moved there but she had attended three Sunday services, the Christingle and the Carol service.

She had asked Angelika to join her a couple of times but she hadn’t been to Church since Charlie passed, and she was still angry with God for taking her and she was quite unforgiving on the subject, and was totally unmovable on the matter, for now.

Megan thought she would probably wear her down eventually but she didn’t want to push it.

Although Angelika had decline for Megan Midnight Mass was an un-missable event, so she went alone.

 

Megan said a few hello’s and thought to herself that there was a good sized congregation for the service.

She always found the Midnight Mass very moving and quite atmospheric it was possible that as it was conducted in the semi darkness it added to the magic.

So she took her seat and settled herself and then she bowed her head, closed her eyes and took a few moments to pray.

When she opened them again she was not alone.

“You came” Megan said and took Angels hand and cried

“Don’t cry honey” Angel said

“But I’m so happy that you’re here” Meg said wiping her eyes

“I’m still angry with him for taking her” she said defiantly looking to the heavens

“But now I know he only took her so he could give me you”

Angel said and Megan was crying again

“I love you Angelika Schmeltz” she said

“I love you too” she replied “and I really want to kiss you”

“Well you’ll have to wait until later” Megan said and smiled before adding “Have a little self-control”

“I don’t believe it” she said “I’m being chastised by a hussy”