It took me a couple of days to shake off the jet lag and get myself together. I still had no idea what I was going to say to Moira regarding Zoe. I hadn't a clue about how she passed and was hesitant to even ask.

During the Summer, I work at the university on my own time. There are student applications to go over and meetings to attend, but for the most part, I come and go as I please. So, after getting re-acclimated, I went to work.

My colleagues wanted to know all about my trip. I told them, leaving out the juicy parts with Evette and our time together. I'm out and open, but my sex life is my business. After telling my story a few times, I logged in on my school laptop, answered emails, and got caught up. I called my mother, and we made a dinner date for Friday night to catch up. I normally see her or talk at length at least twice a week, if not more. My dad is sweet, and I love him to death, but he's on the quiet side, and since I came out, he's gotten even quieter. I know he loves me, but he's still somewhat disappointed that I'm a lesbian. Mom is much more open about my sexuality and asks about my love life now and then. I tell her about it or the lack thereof, and she's happy to listen; I just don't go into much detail.

When I came out to them, it wasn't a major reveal. Mom had guessed that I liked girls before I even realized it. Afterward, she told me she saw the signs, but didn't want to say anything. She'd heard Zoe and me a few times at our sleepovers when we thought she and Dad were asleep when we were in high school. She just wasn't sure if it was a passing thing or not. She didn't care who I loved as long as they were good to me.

After checking in and clearing up my desk, I headed to the gym to work out. I hadn't done anything except have sex with Evette and walk to the restaurant and back for a little over a week. My body missed the gym time.

My time at the gym was a lesser version of my normal routine. I didn't want to overdo it since I hadn't been for a while. However, it was intense enough to get my heart pumping and those lovely endorphins going. Despite getting in a good workout as a distraction, I still had Zoe in the back of my mind. I figured she'd be there off and on for the rest of my life. I was mostly curious how she died. I mean, we're both twenty-six, and that's way too young to just die. Something tragic must have happened, and if it did, I hoped it was instantaneous, and she didn't suffer.

When Friday rolled around, I headed over to Mom and Dad's for dinner. Mom made my favorite, lasagna, and twice as much as she should have. She knew I'd take some home afterwards, so I thanked her. Dad was cordial, and we talked about my trip and what he was up to. After dinner, Dad plopped down in front of the television and watched sports ball as Mom and I sat and talked at the kitchen table after doing the dishes.

We did more catching up and girl talk, and then finally got around to talking bout Zoe. Mom had attended the celebration of life thingy and said it was heart-wrenching and beautiful. She said Moira didn't actually say it to her, but she heard others whisper that Zoe had a sudden cardiac arrest and had died in her sleep. Apparently, she had a heart condition that had gone undiagnosed all these years. One of her friends had found her when she hadn't shown up for a workout, or something.

Zoe hadn't returned her texts, so she went to her apartment and saw her car was still there, but she wouldn't answer the door. So, the police were called, and they found her in bed and unresponsive. There was no hint of foul play, and that's all Mom knew.

We were both close to tears as she told me, but we managed not to cry. I think I've cried more since finding out about Zoe than I have in the last five years or so. Our conversation moved to talking about Moira and how she was dealing with the loss of Zoe. I told Mom I was going to see her the following Saturday.

I figured I'd spend most of the day there since it's sort of a long drive from my place. Mom said she thought that was a good idea, Moira could probably use the company, and she was sure there were lots of things to talk about.

With that out of the way, it was starting to get late, and I hate driving in the dark. I hugged Dad goodbye, and they both walked me to my car, and we hugged again. The drive home sucked. Somebody had missed an exit and tried to cut back onto the freeway, and didn't see the semi in the right-hand lane. It didn't look like anyone was killed or seriously injured because they and the highway patrol were all standing around waiting for the tow trucks to unravel the mess. Meanwhile, everyone on both sides of the freeway had to slow to a crawl and gawk. I think there were two other fender benders because they weren't paying attention to the car in front of them.

It just made me think about moving somewhere with fewer people. But then I'd have to move away from a job I love and Mom and Dad. I wasn't ready to do all of that quite yet.

After a routine weekend and another week at work, Saturday arrived, and I left my house around eight for the long drive to Concord and Moira's place. It's a little over sixty miles, but traffic can make it seem a lot further. This time it wasn't too bad, and I arrived around nine-thirty. The house looked pretty much the same as the last time I saw it many years ago. Moira loves gardening, and there are so many lovely flowering plants and little to no lawn to deal with. I am and always have been jealous of her green thumb, which is the main reason I don't have any houseplants. They just slowly die, and I feel guilty for torturing them to death.

I parked on the street and walked slowly up the driveway. I noticed a newer sports car in the driveway. I thought maybe it was Zoe's because Moira had always been fairly conservative in what she drove. Then I recalled how many times I'd walked up this driveway over the years and not really paid much attention to how nice the neighborhood and Zoe's house were.

When I was just about to ring the doorbell, I heard footsteps approaching and waited for Moira to open the door. When she opened it, her eyes lit up and her arms spread wide. She stepped onto the front porch and enveloped me, holding me tight as I rested my head on her shoulder and wrapped my arms around her.

We stood hugging for quite some time, and when Moira released me, I could tell she'd been crying.

Holding both my hands, she looked me in the eyes and said, "Thank you for coming, Alexis. Come on inside, I'm sure you have a million questions."

I held back my tears, replying, "You're welcome, Moira. I wish I could have been here sooner. I'm so sorry about Zoe. Yes, I have questions, but they can wait. How are you doing?"

Moira smiled as she turned to reenter the house. I followed and walked past her so she could close the door. With the door shut, Moira confessed, "I'm still in a state of shock, sweetie. But I'm slowly coming to terms with it all. I've gotten all of Zoe's things and brought them home. Her apartment management company is giving me until the end of the month to clear out her furniture, and that happens next week. I'm donating everything to a women's shelter along with her clothes. As soon as I get the death certificates, I'll sell her car. It's in the driveway, and I just made a payment on it. I'm paying off and canceling her credit cards. Unfortunately, I have experience with this, so I kinda know how it all works. How are you? You look great, so fit and lovely!"

I sighed as I replied, "Thanks, I'm good, but shocked and sad almost as much as you are. I know, it's the kind of experience you don't really need or want. But if you need me to help with anything, just let me know, Moira. I know Zoe would want her things to go to a good cause. I think that's a great idea."

Moira apologized, “Thank you, sweetie. Oh, I'm sorry, come, sit. Tell me what you've been up to. Would you like something to drink? How was the drive?”

We moved to the living room and sat close to each other on the sofa. I told her I wasn't thirsty, and the drive was normal, long. We continued talking, catching up since we hadn't seen each other in years. I thought Moira was going to be very depressed, but she seemed to brighten up as we chatted. We talked about our lives since we'd last seen each other, bouncing around the years and going back to when Zoe and I were growing up. Then back to the present and how life was going.

We'd been talking for an hour or so when Moira asked if I was hungry. She wouldn't take no for an answer and ended up making a nice lunch for the two of us. We continued talking at the kitchen table as we ate. Since Byron's death, Moira had learned how to deal with all the financial things she had no clue about before.

She and Zoe had exchanged all their pertinent information, like passwords, account numbers, and private information. Moira was working on getting a trust together, something she and Byron had discussed but never followed through with before he passed away.

I told her I should do something like that with my parents. It made sense, but we never seemed to follow through either. I thought it was nice that she was donating all the impersonal items Zoe had and taking her time going through the little keepsakes she'd collected. I asked if I could help, and she said she'd love for me to join her because there were probably things I'd like to have.

There was one thing that Moira asked of me that got us teary-eyed. Once she got Zoe's ashes, Moira wanted me to go with her and spread them in the few places she knew Zoe liked. We'd be discreet, and she'd already checked to be sure it was legal in some of her favorite haunts. We both laughed when Moira used that word. It was nice, and I could tell she was feeling better with me there, talking with her.

I agreed, and she said she'd let me know when. It would be during the week because some of the places had people around during the weekend, and she didn't want any confrontations or misunderstandings if someone saw us. I told her to let me know as we finished lunch, and I helped clear the table and do the dishes.

It was after one that afternoon when I finally left Moira and headed home. After talking with Moira, I felt a weight had been lifted from my shoulders. She seemed to be dealing with Zoe's death better than I thought she would. I still couldn't get Zoe out of my mind; that's the way it works with someone you've loved and lost.

A couple of weeks went by, and I was busy in my routine, working, working out, and enjoying the Summer. Moira texted me that she'd gotten the certificates and wondered when it would be convenient for us to take a couple of field trips. One of the places she wanted to go was Santa Cruz, which is South of where I live. She said she'd pick me up, and we'd head on down and make it a day, or if I wanted, we could get a hotel room and stay the night, so it wouldn't be such a long day.

It's just over an hour and a half from Concord to Santa Cruz. I didn't think Moira wanted to deal with the rush hour traffic in the morning, so I opted for spending the night in Santa Cruz. I told her I'd get us a room since she was driving. She thanked me, and we decided she'd leave around ten in the morning to pick me up on Wednesday, the following week. We'd have lunch in Santa Cruz, spread Zoe around, which sounded weird to us both, and then just enjoy the day walking around.

I booked a nice room not too far from the waterfront; it wasn't too expensive, a little over two hundred a night, and I hoped Moira would enjoy it. I saw some that were over four hundred dollars a night that I was tempted to book, but we were only staying one night, and I didn't want to spend too much money. The room I booked was one with two king-sized beds, which should be perfect. I thought about a single king-size bed to save a few bucks, but I didn't think Moira wanted to share.

Wednesday mid-morning, Moira picked me up, and we drove down to Santa Cruz. We talked the entire way, catching up and discussing the other places Moira wanted to go with Zoe's ashes. She'd put a lot of thought into it, and I think she did a good job of researching. I was happy to reconnect with Moira. I'd always liked her, and being with her reminded me so much of my times with Zoe, laughing and having a good time just being friends.

Traffic wasn't too bad since it was a weekday. We checked into the hotel, and unfortunately, they had screwed up my reservation. Instead of the two king-sized beds, we got one king-sized bed. But, they upgraded us to a suite with a jacuzzi tub. Moira and I had a mini conference debating the upgrade, and in the end, we decided to accept it rather than cancel and drive back home after lunch. I was a little upset, but Moira was fine sleeping in the same bed, which I didn't expect. So, with that out of the way, we went to check out our room and then to lunch.

The room was actually outstanding, and after doing a little unpacking, we went for a walk to find a place to eat and to scout out spots where we could place Zoe's ashes without being confronted.

As we walked and chatted, I reflected back on the times when I was younger and talked to Moira when Zoe wasn't around, or she was busy getting ready for us to go somewhere. Most of those talks with my best friend's mother were mainly about how things were going at school, the sports we were in, and my parents. I never really got to know Moira as an individual, which I guess is normal. Now that we were older and talking about Zoe and each other, I found Moira to be a very caring, intelligent, funny, and sometimes sarcastic person.

I also discovered we shared quite a few things, like staying fit, eating right, celebrities, political views, foods, and, to my surprise, music. I could see now where Zoe got most of her quirks and a few other traits. I know, silly, but it hadn't occurred to me before. It also gave me reason to reflect on my parents and what traits of theirs I'd retained over the years.

On our walk, we found a nice little restaurant not too far from the hotel and decided to stop and eat before going too much further in our quest. During lunch, I asked Moira if it bothered her that I kept asking questions about Zoe. I explained that I wished we'd stayed in touch more.

Moira looked me in the eyes as her hand covered mine and said, "It's fine, Alexis. People change, and I think you two just sort of became your own person, following your dreams and desires. I discovered some of mine after Byron passed. I mean, I was just twenty-two when we married and then twenty-six when I had Zoe. Don't get me wrong, I loved the life I had. But, since Byron's passing, I don't have his wishes or desires to share. I only have mine, and that is kinda new and exciting for me. I'm doing things now that I would never have done if Byron were still with me."

Her confession was somewhat enlightening, and I was curious as to what she was doing now that she couldn't before. So, I asked.

She grinned, "Oh, I've started to travel some, nothing extreme, just like wine tasting, sightseeing, I was thinking about hot air ballooning. Baby steps kind of things. Driving down here to see what Zoe enjoyed about this place is something Byron and I never would have done."

I smiled as I replied, "I see. Thank you. I get what you mean. I'm the opposite, I guess. Doing things for myself and not worrying about what my partner, if I had one, wants to do. Maybe that's why I haven't had a long-term thing. I'm more about me than them."

Moira smiled, "It's fine to be that way, sweetie. Zoe was like that, too. We're all different, as long as you're happy, it doesn't matter."

I blushed and said, “I think I'm happy, but it would be nice to have a partner now and then to share it all with.”

Moira laughed, "You're still young. I'm sure you'll find someone, and even if you don't, you'll be happy regardless. I can tell."

After that, our conversation became less philosophical and more casual. We talked about my parents and what they were up to, and how nice the day was, among other things. After lunch, we walked around and found some spots we could leave Zoe's ashes along the beach, so the outgoing tide could take part of her away. We'd wait until close to sunset after dinner just to be safe. With that out of the way, we walked back to the hotel room to finish unpacking and relax.

When we returned, Moira showed me the water burial envelope with Zoe's ashes. It was water-soluble and big enough to hold a decent amount. Moira said they have a variety of sizes. We'd be using the smaller ones on our little field trips. It still felt strange knowing that was part of my friend. I'm sure Moira felt the same way, or maybe a little different, because that was her daughter. I nearly cried when she showed it to me.

We finished unpacking, then I decided to soak in the jacuzzi tub for a bit before dinner. It was relaxing, and while I was soaking, Moira took a quick nap. The hot water in the tub was amazing. I soaked for a good half hour, and when I got out, Moira was asleep. I didn't want to wake her, so I dressed in the bathroom, trying to be as quiet as I could.

When I finished dressing, I debated what to do. I didn't want to wake Moira, and the hot soak made me a little sleepy. So, I eased myself onto the bed and slowly drifted off. I don't think I was out for more than a few minutes when I felt the bed move. I was on my back and rolled onto my side to see Moira looking over at me.

She smiled and simply said, “Thank you, Alexis.”

I returned her smile as I asked, “For what?”

Moira scooted closer and then replied, "For helping me with this. You and Zoe were so close. I was a little sad when you two drifted apart."

I sighed, replying, "I was, too, but Zoe wasn't into me the way I was into her."

Moira giggled, "Well, for a long time, I really thought you two were into each other in a big way. I heard you two quite a few times during your senior year of high school. I don't know how Byron would have reacted at the time, but I wouldn't have minded if you two had gotten really serious."

I blushed as I replied, "I didn't know you knew. I thought we were being discreet. My mom figured we were both lesbians. But Zoe wasn't as committed as I was. I never really enjoyed being around boys that much. Of course, Zoe was much prettier than I, and she loved their attention."

Moira replied, "Oh, sweetie, you were pretty then, and you're absolutely stunning now. Don't sell yourself short. The boyfriends and girlfriends that Zoe let us meet weren't as nice as you. Byron did accept her sexuality, but he struggled with it. I'll be forever grateful that you two were friends. I don't know of anyone else who'd help me on my little quest. I really do appreciate you being here, Alexis."

Another blush as I replied, "Thank you, Moira. It's sweet and kinda weird that you're doing this. But I understand, and how could I say no? You were always there for us, just like my mom was."

Moira sighed, then she reached over and brushed my cheek with her finger. Her voice was soothing as she said, "Yes, it is sort of weird, but I had a feeling you'd understand. Now I should shower and get dressed. Think about where we're going for dinner. I recall seeing a nice little place not too far from the beach. I'm buying, okay?"

I grinned and held back a purr as she touched me. Then I replied, “I think I remember the one. That's fine, I'll let you buy. But I'm buying lunch tomorrow.”

Moira laughed as she said, “Okay, I won't argue. See you in a few.”

With our conversation concluded, Moira left me on the bed to get some clean clothes, then head to the bathroom to shower and change. I thought about walking in on her and joining her, but I didn't want to ruin our trip if she shunned me. The way she looked and talked to me made me wonder if there was an ember of desire within her, and all I had to do was fan it a bit to ignite it.

So, I just lay back and tried to get my mind off seducing her. I also wondered if she was the reason I leaned towards more mature women. Zoe was the spitting image of Moira. I recalled the old adage that an apple doesn't fall far from the tree. That made me smile and think there might be a possibility she wouldn't reject me. But, as I said, I didn't want to take the chance. At least not right now.

When Moira returned from her shower, we sat around talking again. She gave me the history of Zoe's friends she got to meet. She only met a few, maybe six or seven; she actually saw more than once. I told her I was pretty much the same way. My parents have only met a couple of girls I've been serious with, and never more than four times. Moira pondered aloud that it was because Zoe and I were meant for each other, we just hadn't figured it out for ourselves. I smiled and told her she might have been right, but I was happy with my life and career. That's when the subject changed to my life so far, and the more we talked, the more details I revealed.

We eventually got to my European trips, and I discovered that she longed to travel there. Traveling was one thing she and Byron never really did much of. So, I told her that the next time I head over there, I'd let her know. She asked if maybe she could tag along and sightsee while I worked. I just smiled and said I'd have to think about it, but it's possible. That produced a smile on her face.

We also talked more in-depth about the things she has been doing since Byron passed. She was very busy volunteering for things she cared about. She was comfortable financially, thanks to Byron's planning, so she didn't have to work, and the house was paid off.

We'd been talking for quite some time when Moira suggested we walk around again and check out a few more areas. So, we grabbed our things, along with the envelope, and took a stroll. We did a bunch of window shopping, taking our time until around seven, when we were both hungry. Instead of the restaurant we'd initially picked, we found a Japanese restaurant and decided to eat there. I checked its reviews, and it sounded good, so we headed inside.

As we waited for our server, Moira reminded me that she was buying. I tried to argue with her, but she insisted, so I acquiesced. When our server arrived, she was a more mature asian and I guess my reaction was one that Moira noticed. The woman was probably in her mid to late thirties and had the sweetest smile.

When she left us, Moira grinned and commented that I looked a little flushed. That made me blush as I explained that I had a girlfriend like her for a while, and she just reminded me of her. Moira grinned and nodded her head.

Dinner was superb; we got a sampler plate of sashimi and sushi and shared each of the twelve offerings. It was fun and kinda sexy too, feeding each other now and then. During dinner, Moira asked me what I looked for in a woman I wanted to date or get to know better. I explained my criteria, for lack of a better word, and then asked her if she'd dated anyone since Byron's passing. It was her turn to blush when she said she hadn't, which prompted me to ask her why not.

Moira thought momentarily, then said she really hadn't thought too much about dating. She'd been asked out a few times by men she'd met doing her charity and volunteer work, but she was enjoying her 'free time' as she called it, and didn't want to deal with any drama. Then she said she did miss the intimacy, which made her blush even more.

I agreed with the drama aspect as I went on to explain about the few longer-term relationships I've had. They'd started off as friends and then expanded and became more intimate. But, in the end, things happened that caused us to break up or just stop being intimate. Then I told her the intimacy thing is what I miss too, but I have ways of dealing with it. That got a curious look from her for a brief moment, and then she nodded and smiled.

After dinner, we walked around until the sun was about to dip below the horizon. That's when we made our way to the shoreline to say goodbye to Zoe. Luckily, it was an outgoing tide, and when it came time to say goodbye, both of us were on the verge of tears. There were a few people around, but they didn't seem to notice or care that we slipped an envelope into the water and stood there, with our arms around each other's waist, sniffling, and just taking in the moment. When we couldn't see Zoe any longer, whether the envelope had dissolved or the tide had taken it away, Moira suggested we head back to the hotel room. The walk back was quiet, and we held hands from the shoreline until we hit the concrete sidewalk. I don't think we said more than ten words the entire way back, and when we got to our room, we took turns using the bathroom and changing into our sleepwear.

We'd only brought old T-shirts and shorts to sleep in; the weather was warm but not warm enough to use the room's air conditioner. So, we pulled back the comforter, got into bed, said good night, then Moira turned out the light, and we fell asleep. Well, I think it took us longer than we'd anticipated because we lay in the dark thinking about our day. I don't know what Moira was thinking, but my mind was all over the place. I was thinking about Zoe, flirting with Moira, the consequences of any serious flirtations, and the possibility of something intimate between the two of us, and then back to Zoe.

I think I finally got to sleep around eleven, but I woke a few times because Moira would toss and turn. I didn't say anything to her, figuring she was probably thinking about Zoe or maybe she wasn't used to being in bed with someone. When morning finally arrived, I rolled onto my side, and there was Moira, wide awake, looking at me. She smiled and said she was sorry she'd disturbed my sleep. I smiled and told her it was fine, at least she didn't roll over and smack me in the face.

Moira giggled, then got out of bed to use the bathroom. I lay there watching her walk the short distance, admiring her mature body. I hadn't asked, but I assumed she did something to stay in such great shape in her early fifties.

When Moira finished in the bathroom, it was my turn. I took my time getting out of bed while Moira got out her clothes for the day. Now and then, I noticed her glancing at me as we talked, and I straightened the bed covers, bending over now and then and stretching as I made the bed. Moira told me I didn't have to make the bed since we were leaving, but I told her it was a habit, which it actually is for me.

When I finished, I used the bathroom, then came back in and dressed so we could head downstairs for breakfast. We took our time eating and then walked around outside for a bit, talking about our next field trip.

Zoe liked to camp, and one of her favorite places was along the Russian River in Sonoma County. Moira had called and made reservations at a little place near Guerneville. Since neither of us camped, she reserved a cabin for a couple of nights during the week. The dates were a couple of weeks away, and she'd go by herself if I couldn't make it. I checked the calendar on my phone, and I had a couple of appointments, but they were on different days, so traveling wouldn't be a problem.

On the way home, we talked about our second excursion. I'd pick Moira up since we'd be heading Northwest. We could take our time and stop in Napa, Sonoma, and then Santa Rosa before driving up to Guerneville, where we might even take the Korbel champagne tour. It sounded like a fun trip, doing a little wine tasting and looking at the scenery.

Once home, I called Mom and told her how our trip went and that we'd planned another. She was glad things worked out and that Moira was doing well. I also texted Evette just to say hello. She was glad I did, and we texted back and forth for quite a while.