Would you Swallow all your Pride?

Chapter Thirty-Nine: Rose.

How can she see me like that? It didn't make sense. Nothing that was happening made much sense for Wilhemina, but she was trying to simply take it. So she smiled, and her thumb reached to caress Billie Dean's cheekbone, for she still doubted that woman was really there, with her. "Thank you."

Billie Dean nodded. The car turned into Venable's street, so she pecked Wilhemina sweetly before pulling away.

The driver parked right in front of Venable's house. After thanking him, they both got out of the car. Already, Wilhemina began looking for her keys and, while she did so, a gentle palm rested on the small of her back. She smiled a little to herself, guiding them to the door once she found it. Purpura meowed loudly, greeting them as she always did. "Hi, sweetheart," Venable said as she locked the door.

"Hi, cutie." Billie Dean offered a hand to the cat, but Purpura only stared at her as she rubbed her side on the corner table.

Setting her shoes aside already, Wilhemina chuckled to herself. "She won't let you pet her until you're sitting down," she explained softly.

"Oh?" Billie Dean stood back up. I wonder why. Wilhemina would say so if she wanted to. She saw how Venable had taken her shoes off and did the same, pushing them to the side. Her feet relaxed against the floor.

"I taught her that." Wilhemina pulled them to the couch, purse and keys on the corner table. Billie got the cue and followed after her, taking a seat beside Venable. As Wilhemina had said, Purpura jumped up the second they took a seat, meowing as she rubbed her head on Billie Dean's arm. With a smile, Venable caressed her back.

"She's so smart," Billie Dean commented as she smiled to herself. She caressed between the cat's ears, giggling when she let out a loud purr and bumped her head on her hand even stronger. "Oh, you're so cute."

Venable watched them. I care about these two more than I care about a lot of things. It was a scary thought. But it also brought her a lot of happiness. "She doesn't bump on my cane that way," she nearly murmured, for her voice was so low from embarrassment. But sharing things with Billie Dean felt so nice, and Billie had never judged and had never taken a second look on her cane. Billie Dean felt so safe.

Billie didn't understand what Wilhemina was saying at first, but her mind soon caught up. She looked at Venable. She's embarrassed. Billie was quickly learning which subjects were sensitive to Wilhemina, and she kept a pin on them to always be careful. "That makes a lot of sense. It's impressive she's learned it so well."

Venable nodded. Her eyes fell down to her lap as she bit her lip, hand on the cane still. Her spine had begun to ache from the heels and from standing up all week. I should take some painkillers. But then Billie Dean would know, and that would bring her spine more unnecessary attention and she couldn't afford that. What if she leaves me when she sees it? Like it or not, Billie hadn't seen Venable's body as it was yet. She began to chew on her bottom lip.

"Wilhie," Billie Dean called softly. Venable looked at her again. "You've got that dimple between your eyebrows again... what's wrong?" Her words kept on being the softest she could manage.

Wilhemina gulped. How can she read me so well? She assumed most people just weren't willing to try. Venable took a deep breath. I need to try. For her. Billie Dean deserved it. "I... my cane." Billie nodded, encouraging her to keep going. Wilhemina licked her lips nervously. "It... I... I hate it," she sighed. It was the truth, after all. "It makes me feel so small... and so... so inadequate."

Billie shook her head as she frowned. How could Wilhemina feel that way for something that she considered to be so small? It was a simple detail, one that didn't define who she was. They had had that conversation before, Billie Dean remembered, but clearly it was something that required more patience. And she was willing to reassure and talk to Venable about it how many times was necessary. "There's nothing wrong with your cane... there's nothing wrong with needing one, either." She reached to caress Venable's hand out of instinct. Wilhemina gulped. She wasn't sure she wanted to be touched right now, but she tangled her fingers around Billie's and gave it a try. "No one thinks less of you because of it."