GENRE: Lesbian Spicy Romance
LENGTH: 53,634 words
RATING:

Sara Jones would know Jennifer Cohen's voice anywhere.

When Sara runs into her favourite true crime podcaster at her pet store, she wishes her all the best for her 100th episode of I Love You, Jane Doe, where Jennifer plans to unearth the identity of a local woman. Sara also gives Jennifer advice on cat diets, since her girlfriend's cat has been putting on the pounds. What should be a quick and helpful meeting ends up spiralling into an adventure over the longest night of the year to return the cat to its rightful home and to record the 100th -- and final episode -- of the podcast. Together.

Sara's crush on the always poised, and now recently single, Jennifer grows and grows. But while she and Jennifer share a traumatic past that bonds them, both women fear a future where violence lurks around every corner and the world, even during Christmas time, seems to still believe the worst in people. Can both women heal themselves in time to fall in love? Or will they always be left scarred and victimized by the harsh world around them?

EXCERPT:
Note: may contain sexually explicit scenes of a homoerotic nature.

Over the rest of the day, Jennifer and Sara made numerous trips across Peterborough. Since they had no car between them, the bus was their only option as they gathered art materials and sketch pads at Sara's apartment, and then went across town yet again to grab the precise recording equipment.

"I think I can do most of this on my phone," Jennifer said. "But it's best if we have something to soundproof the room. My roommates are all gone, so we can have the run of their house."

"Sounds great. I've never done something like this before, but I've listened to a ton of shows, so just tell me what you need me to do."

Jennifer nodded. She had a growing list of things she wanted to do with Sara. At some point between her kindnesses from last night, to her arm touch in the pawn shop, and now the way in which she held doors open for her, Jennifer realized her slight attraction had turned into a full blown crush. When Sara seemed to understand every last detail of how she envisioned this podcast, possibly the last one ever for I Love You, Jane Doe, Jennifer's attraction only grew. Sara was kind. She was sweet.

And once they started to set up in the basement room, usually inhabited by her friend Laurie, she soon realized how attractive Sara was. She'd been in a coat or long sweaters the whole time. Now her dark jeans clung to her waist. She'd rolled up her sleeves to set up some of the cords and equipment they'd just purchased, and her muscles were taught. She wasn't exactly butch, since she still had long hair and some softness to how she handled herself, but the mix of masculine and feminine energies in her made Jennifer pay attention. Each time she curled her hair over her ears, she seemed to be plucked from a painting with soft lines.

"Are you ready to go?" Sara asked. Hours had passed since they'd left the diner, and the daylight was quickly fading. Jennifer could only see a sliver of the sun in Laurie's basement room remaining. "Or do you want to stop for a break before we begin the show?"

"Good point." Jennifer touched her stomach. The meal had been large enough to sustain them for all the prep work, but she was feeling peckish now. "I think my other roommate, Kayla, left some Christmas cookies behind."

"Gingerbread?"

"Ah, shortbread. Is that okay?"

Sara let out a low laugh. "Beggars can't be choosers, man."

Jennifer laughed along with her, but it struck her that the phrase seemed out of place with Sara. Her speech was normally so delicate, unsure. And when had she ever said 'man' before? Jennifer didn't let the doubt linger. They left the recording area set up in Laurie's room and headed back to the kitchen on the first floor. Jennifer grabbed the tin of cookies left behind by Kayla. A note popped out as she opened the lid that she'd not seen.

Hey, doll face. Be sure to stop talking so much about dead people and embrace life. Love, Kay.

"What's that?"

"Nothing." Jennifer sighed, and then showed Sara the note anyway. "Just my friend thinking she's giving me Dr. Phil life advice. I prefer to stick with the cookies, thank you very much."

Jennifer got out a plate for the cookies and put water on for tea. She was about to ask what kind of herbal tea Jennifer would like when she noticed a dour expression on her face as she read the note.

"Ignore Kay," Jennifer said. "She's bitter about most things most days."

"No, it's fine." Sara turned her gaze from the note and forced a smile. "She reminds me of Sarah, actually."

"The foster sibling?"

"Yes." After a moment of hesitation, Sara pulled up her phone. She showed Jennifer a linked in profile for a black woman with a radiant smile wearing a blue blazer. "She's a real estate agent now. Sort of funny, when you think about it. Former foster kid finding shelter for people in their real lives."

"That's really sweet, actually. Sort of like poetic justice."

"Yeah," Sara said slowly. "Or it’s just living with ghosts."

"Don't take Kayla seriously," Jennifer affirmed again. She made them both black teas without bothering to ask. When the kettle hissed, she poured the water into their separate mugs. Sara had eaten one of the cookies, but it seemed halfhearted.

"Can I tell you something strange?" Sara said just as Jennifer put the mug in front of her.

"I think I've been telling you strange things since I first met you. So it's only fair." Jennifer sat down on a chair at the kitchen table with Sara. "So shoot."