Previously in Color Me Kelly- Jen met a girl. Kelly came out as TRANS to his family-They make a date…but where’s Kelly?
~KELLY~
Kelly, thought Jen might be disappointed when she saw him again.
She’d been watching the door at the front of Missy’s and checking out each woman that came in.
He couldn’t put it off any longer. Kelly went to the restroom one more time. First, he pulled off the ball cap and mussed-up his hair. He untucked his flannel shirt and tied the shirt-tails into a knot at his waist. Until he felt he could tell Jen he was Trans, he should at least appear to be a girl. He took in a deep breath and opened the door. As he passed the bar, he purchased two bottles of beer and headed toward Jen’s table. Sitting one of the beers on the table in front of Jen, he cleared his throat.
“Hey!” he said, as he sat down. “I hope you weren’t waiting long.”
Jen looked up from her notebook and did a double take. There was a slight look of surprise, then recognition, before the smile he’d dreamt of return to Jen’s face.
“Oh hey,” Jen said. “I didn’t see you come in. Is this table okay?”
“It’s fine.” He sat opposite of her. “You aren’t disappointed?”
“In what?” Jen asked.
“I obviously don’t look anything like I did last night. I mean I don’t usually wear dresses, I wanted to be real with you.” That’s as close as he would admit anything for now. But he still wanted assurance. “This is me,” Kelly said. Pulling at the flannel shirt collar, he added, “I hope that’s okay?”
“Of course it’s okay.” Jen picked up the beer and pointed it to him. “To being yourself.”
They clinked bottles as if it were a toast. Kelly took it as a good sign.
“Who else ya going to be,” Jen asked? “You do you. I was surprised, not disappointed. And to be honest…” Jen hesitated for only a fraction of a second. “You rock that flannel. Not something I thought I’d ever say. But you’re still hot!” She blushed.
A sense of relief came over Kelly, that Jen still liked him. He relaxed and sipped his beer. “What are you drawing,” he asked? He motioned to the notebook.
“Oh not really drawing, just doodling. It’s something I do when I’m nervous.”
“You were nervous?” It was nice to know he wasn’t alone in that.
“A little.”
“Well, so was I.” He couldn’t help but grin. “So where were we when we were so rudely interrupted by my brother last night?” He pulled the notebook toward his side of the table. “Got any more of those cool gel-pens for me?”
“You bet.” Jen rummaged through her pack and came back with a handful of options.
“I have to confess. I let the drag queens do my makeup yesterday. I was going to go to Mom’s all dolled up like she wants me to. But I couldn’t do it.”
“Why didn’t you?”
“When everyone I talked to rushed off because they heard how low my voice was, I feared they thought I was one of the drag queens. I didn’t want you to think that.”
She lazily colored in one of the flowers on the page. “I didn’t think you were a drag queen at all. But then I didn’t hear you until last night on the phone. Your voice is sexy as hell.” Jen put the pen up to her mouth. “Oops. I shouldn’t have said that. Sometime I forget to filter.”
“No that’s okay I like your honesty.”
“So why didn’t you want to go to your family dinner thing?”
“I tried, but I couldn’t. Not like that. It’s not the real me.” He liked talking with Jen. He didn’t know much about her, but he was intrigued. He added more purple to the collage they were creating. It was nice to feel at ease like he did when talking to her on the phone.
“I love your style. Not afraid to be you that’s obvious. I admire that.”
“Thanks,” Jen said. She was playing with her necklace.
He laughed. “You really did come with bells on. You’re a blast.”
“I’ll take that as a compliment. If anything, I am after all true to my word.”
“Nothing at all wrong with that. I think we’re going to be good friends,” Kelly said.
“It is a very good place to start, I’ll give you that.”
“I’ll drink to that. Friends, indeed.”
The two clinked beers again.
Did Jen want more than just friendship? Kelly wasn’t certain he could handle anything more at the moment. But who couldn’t use more friends? The spit-fire in front of him would certainly brighten up his world.
~~~~~~~
Nervous, Kelly squeezed the steering wheel tightly as he parked Bob’s pickup in back of Jen’s car behind her house. His knuckles were white as he watched Jen get out of the pale blue VW and motion to him to stop before he got out of his vehicle. Maybe Jen was nervous too? Did she want to tidy up before she let him in? He waited while Jen disappeared inside.
There was a storage shed to the side of the house. No surprise since the basement garage door looked to have been converted into an apartment. If it were up to him he’d put in a bay window with flower boxes to make it look homier. Maybe a privacy pony wall to separate it from the driveway. He’d want to come home to an inviting area, not a temporary arrangement that screamed garage used to be here. It wasn’t long before Jen was back and gestured him to come inside.
Kelly got out and went into the basement. The place was a mess. Clothes were dropped on the day bed, and it smelled of paint. He glanced around as Jen started hanging clothes and tidying up.
“Don’t clean on my account.”
“I’m not. There’s not much room to entertain, I’m sorry.” She continued to put clothes in the nook in a corner where a rickety rack was stuffed full of bright fabrics. “I only have one chair and the daybed. This won’t take long.”
“Stop apologizing, this is better than a lot of basements I’ve been in. Cute, actually.”
He glanced at the ceiling, floor and the small kitchenette. He couldn’t help but see the potential of the space. He’d enjoyed renovating several basements with his brother and father. He imagined a drop down ceiling, some new flooring, and bar stools would make an improvement. He turned back to Jen who was struggling with the last couple of garments. Walking over he said, “Basements are my favorite renos. And they double square footage if done right.”
“Yeah, living in one isn’t my favorite.”
The rack moved every time Jen added another hanger. It was a wonder it stood upright.
“Maybe I can help you out? I’ll be right back.”
Kelly went back out to the truck to get some tools. He found a bag of closet accessories left over from their last renovation behind the seat. Then he dropped the back tailgate to get his electric drill and tool belt. This would be an easy fix. When he stepped back into the basement the daybed was made and Jen was nowhere to be seen. Where did she go?
Jen came out from the bathroom in cute fluffy pink sweats and slippers.
“I think I can help with your closet situation.”
“Really?” Jen looked excited.
“Sure, I do construction. This is easy.” He pulled out the plastic hardware and screws, then began measuring the nook. “Can I use those 2 X 4’s in the rafters?”
Jen looked above her head. “I didn’t think those were good for anything. Mom said they were just scrapes. There’s more in the shed.”
“I work wonders with scraps. Watch.” He found pieces that fit between the studs and screwed them in. “The drill will be quieter than a hammer.”
“Good. Mom’s home and I don’t feel like dealing with her tonight. What can I do?”
He pointed to the clothes. “Move all those back to your bed. I’m going to use the poles and make you a proper closet. I could use some coffee too, if it’s not too much trouble.”
He fastened the plastic circles for dowel hangers on two boards then asked, “How many rods do you want?”
Jen’s eyes perk up with surprise. “How many can you do with what we have here?”
He walked over to the rickety closet on wheels and measured again. “I think I can rig up two today. But if I can come back and can make a racket…” He extended a tape measure taking in the height and width again. “I think I can give you three, maybe four. Two main ones.” He gestured in the center where he thought he’d finish tonight. “Then here,” he stepped to the left. “I could make a place for long garments, robes, dresses and the like on one side.” Then taking four steps to the far right, he nodded. “And some shelfs for shoes and purses here.”
“You can do all that?”
“With coffee and incentive, sure I can.”
Jen went into the kitchenette and started coffee. Then she went back to her clothes and removed them with gusto. As the pile grew on the day bed she was grinning from ear to ear.
Kelly didn’t think Jen should be so excited, but girls did like clothes. He was glad he could help. “If I had more time and didn’t have to be quiet I could do more.”
Jen returned with a cup of coffee in her hand. “You said caffeine and incentive, right?”
He nodded. “Yeah.” He took the coffee and sipped. The blend tasted strong, just like liked it.
“Well here, then,” Jen said. She kissed his cheek.
The tingling sensation that the simple peck gave must have read on his face. He was suddenly warm all over. “Can I come over next weekend?”
“Yes. And I can go shopping to fill up the space you make.” She laughed as he sipped his coffee.
The feelings he got from the innocent kiss of thanks, made him think deeper than he meant to. Her kind of incentive would have him remodeling the whole basement. For some reason he didn’t mind. He couldn’t wait to get started, because he didn’t know about Jen, but he wanted more.