Rainbow allowed herself to be guided through the parking lot, into Nadja’s apartment building, up the elevator, and then into her apartment.
“Sorry it’s such a long walk up here. Guess that’s why the judge agreed you should stay with mom until you can walk at least a little better on your own,” said Nadja.
“That’s ok. It was worth it and I know I’m going to be walking soon enough. I can stand for much longer periods of time than I could barely a week ago. Your mom makes a great physical therapist, too. I can see how well she must’ve done working with handicapped people.”
“Tell me, Lady Rainbow,” Nadja said after she gave Rainbow a quick tour of the small yet upscale apartment.
“Yes?”
“Do you think I’d do well at curing the horny?”
Rainbow smiled seductively. “Well, there’s only one way to find out.”
Nadja carried Rainbow into the bedroom and threw her on the bed. There they spent the next two hours turning their fantasies into a memorable reality.
“You’re right, Lady Rainbow,” Nadja said as they lay in bed trying to catch their breath later on while the sun fully set behind the buildings of Munich. “Life isn’t what we plan it.”
Rainbow giggled. Then she turned serious and said, “If you still want to play around with guys on the side here and there, I’ll understand.”
Nadja looked at Rainbow. “Why would I want to do that?”
“Well, you did say that men were your main cup of tea and that you prefer someone who speaks your language,” Rainbow reminded her. “So I’ll understand if you need a little more than what this crazy bitch can give you.”
Nadja smiled. “But it’s your craziness I’ve come to adore.”
“I’ve always been the black sheep of the family,” Rainbow said with a laugh.
“Me too.”
“Anyone else gay or bi?”
“Not that I know of, though there have been some rumors.”
“Rumors?”
“Yeah, just some crazy rumors,” Nadja said with a dismissive wave of her hand. “Nothing to support them or to not support them.”
“What rumors?”
“Does it matter?”
“No, but you know I’m the curious type.”
“Curious or nosy?” Nadja asked with a sly smile.
“Both. Any crazies in the family?”
“Not that I know of.”
“Then I’d say you’ve got a pretty ordinary family compared to mine.”
“I’d say so. It’s nice to have you add a touch of uniqueness to it.” Nadja got out of bed and threw on a silk robe. “Come on, Verrückte.”
“What’s Verrückte?” Rainbow asked, sliding out of bed.
“Crazy woman.”
“Oh, yeah?” Rainbow asked with a laugh.
Nadja nodded. “I think so.”
“If I behave do I get you again later on?”
“You might,” Nadja said, winking suggestively.
They made dinner together that night, stealing a kiss here and there, and then they cuddled up on the couch and watched a movie. It was how the better part of the weekend was spent; just lazing around both in and out of bed, though they weren’t exactly lazy in bed.
Rainbow thought she’d be depressed when Nadja went to drop her off at Hildegard’s house on Monday morning on her way to work, but she didn’t mind so much. She was simply going from one beautiful woman to another, though this one wasn’t quite as beautiful and she certainly wasn’t intimate with her either. There was also the fact that she still liked being in houses rather than apartments.
“I’m gonna miss you, Verrückte,” said Nadja.
“Me too, but I’ll keep busy with my writing and German studies and hopefully the time will pass quickly enough until Wednesday rolls around.”
“Oh,” Nadja said with a smile, “you gonna get back into your writing?”
“I was thinking about it since there’s not much else I can do right now. You better behave when I’m not around or else I’ll have to put you in a story and kill you,” Rainbow teased.
“Ok, Lady Rainbow,” Nadja said smiling wider. “I’ll behave.”
They pulled up in front of Hildegard’s house. Hildy stood waiting in her driveway, slowly pacing around, arms crossed casually in front of her. Her eyes seemed to light up upon spotting them. She quickly came around to the passenger side and helped Rainbow out and into the warm, muggy morning.
“I’m doing better,” Rainbow exclaimed excitedly. “Ich bin besser. I can take a few steps on my own.”
Hildegard smiled her beautiful smile and then mother and daughter exchanged some words, Nadja never getting out of the car.
Rainbow waved as Nadja backed down the driveway and disappeared as she headed off to work. Then she turned to face Hildegard who eyed her intently yet pleasantly. “How are you? Wie geht es Ihnen?”
“Gut,” said Hildegard. “Sehr gut.”
“You look nice,” Rainbow told her in German, and it was true. She did. She wore a sleeveless dress with bold splashes of random color in turquoise, purple, royal blue and shades of deep red wine that went beautifully with her bright red hair which was left loose to hang in waves to below her shoulders. Her face was beautifully made up as well.
Rainbow wondered if this was some kind of special occasion, but didn’t know how to ask in German.
Once inside the cooler, dryer house, life progressed pleasantly. She and Hildegard “conversed” through the computer’s translator. Hildegard was full of questions – did she have a good time with Nadja? Did they remember to do her exercises? Did they remember her medication? How had she been feeling physically and mentally?
Over the next few days, Hildegard took her shopping for a new swimsuit and taught her more German. They did a variety of other things together and fell into a comfortable routine. They went swimming. They went for walks. They did Rainbow’s leg exercises together. They read or watched TV together. Rainbow found it odd, but nice that she didn’t feel smothered by the older woman’s constant presence.
The only thing that happened that was different was that Rainbow got to meet Hildegard’s oldest of two sons, Josh, who was two years younger than Nadja. His only language was German, so she couldn’t converse much with him either. He seemed friendly enough, but Rainbow was polite enough to give him time alone with his mother, so she “walked” into the kitchen by using whatever walls, furniture, and chair backs were available along the way for support.
He sat and talked with his mother in the living room for two hours while Rainbow used her computer and tried not to think about Friday. That Friday they were to return to court so that custody, for lack of a better word, could be decided. Rainbow felt like a child all over again just thinking about it.
As Rainbow lay in bed next to Hildegard late Tuesday night, she realized that while things were getting better in the present, the future was still one big blur. Nothing was concrete about it whatsoever. She was still basically homeless, jobless… futureless.
She finally drifted off to sleep, glad that no one was attached to them to possibly disrupt her sleep for in just a few days Rainbow would have neighbors just a wall away for who knew how many months or even years.
Wouldn’t she?
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