Never My Love

A Gaby fanfic

based on

the “Notes of a Journey” Trilogy

Chapter 6

by PB

“Where're we going, sweetheart?” Maddy asked as she was silently directed to the waiting Banff shuttle. When they boarded, Gaby put their sports bag in the overhead before taking the seat beside her wife.

“Remember I told you I wanted our last day here to be really special?” Gaby softly asked in answer to her wife's inquisitive stare.

“Uh huh,” Maddy softly answered as other passengers walked past her seat.

“Okay, then … I thought we could spend the day in town at the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel...”

“What's there?”

”A spa…” Gaby softly murmured as she looked into Maddy's eyes while reaching for her hand.

“What?” Maddy sweetly asked in a hushed tone.

“Think of it as a romantic ‘Grande Finale' to the week,” Gaby whispered as the coach made its way from the hotel onto the highway into Banff.

“A real one?” Maddy' eyes lit up as she quietly squealed.

“Jus' like back ‘ome…”

“I've never been to a spa...” Maddy quietly admitted, wide-eyed and all excited.

“That's why you're going today…” Gaby softly allowed. “An' it doesn't stop there...”

“Mmmmm ... tell me,” Maddy softly purred.

“After the spa … it's back to the hotel, where we'll enjoy a quiet dinner for two in the hotel's Fairview Dining Room. Sorry … no jeans tonight, darling ... then wherever the mood takes us before we have to pack-up and get out,” Gaby quietly explained as she laid out her plans for their last evening.

“Anyone ever tell you that you're a hopeless romantic?”

“Matter of fact … there was this one girl. Quite beautiful as I recall…” Gaby playfully smirked while staring into Maddy's eyes.

“I love you too, sweetheart!” Maddy softly whispered as she gently caressed her wife's cheek and then snuggled up against her.

“You wanna hear what's waiting for us at the spa or you rather it be a surprise?'

“Surprise me…” Maddy softly declared with a gentle squeeze to Gaby's hand.

“Okay. However, I will tell you that when we get the hotel … we hafta check-in with the spa to let them know we're there. Our appointment's for half ten.”

“Then why're we going now? We'll be there before nine.”

“They'd like you to be there at least thirty minutes before your appointment … to see the place and relax.”

“Relax?”

“As in whirlpool or sauna...”

“Nice! We could do both … couldn't we?”

“I dunno if they'll go for that. It seems to be part of the pre-package treatment, but you can always ask.”

“Okay.”

“One thing the spa did mention though is that we'll have to leave all our jewellery an' our wallets in the hotel safe.”

Gaby had suggested earlier that they leave their bags in their hotel room safe and just take their wallets in the zippered pockets of their ski jackets. Neither girl wanted to part with their wedding bands for a full day.

“Even…?”

“Even our rings. They say that the high mineral content of their baths may ruin them.”

“Will we be having any of these baths?”

“Maybe…”

“Do we have to wear bathing suits or is this place like those Japanese baths you hear about?”

“Yes an' no ... the brochure says it's optional in some parts of the spa…”

“Did you put our bathing suits in the sports bag?”

“Of course … didn't you see me?”

“No. You mean I'll finally see you look like wet in that sexy bright yellow two-piece you got last summer?” Maddy suggestively wondered.

“I told you ... it's neon yellow... not bright yellow!” Gaby countered with a playful grin. “But ... I could say the same about the one you brought...”

“Mmmm … well, whatever it is ... it certainly gets my attention,” Maddy purred as she held her bride's hand.

“But you said bathing suits, optional?” There was no mistaking the hope in Maddy's voice.

“We have a private suite ... sooo ... if the mood strikes...” Gaby mischievously hinted.

“We do?” Maddy questioned.

“Uh huh. It's part of our package ... created specifically for couples. It's called ‘Ritual for Two'.”

“Hmmm … I like it the sound of that,” Maddy purred with an impish grin.

“But , we do have wear those fluffy white Terrycloth robes when we walk around in the spa's common areas.”

“You always this romantic?” Maddy whispered.

“Only when I'm in your arms...” Gaby softly replied.

Thinking that they were sufficiently hidden from the other passengers by their high-backed coach seats, she gently turned Gaby's face to look at her and tenderly kissed her on the lips.

“Honeymoon…” Gaby quietly offered in a deadpan voice, as the two girls parted from their kiss. From her vantage point sitting with her back against the window, she was looking directly at two college-aged boys seated across the aisle, staring at them.

As soon as she heard her bride's voice, a red-faced Maddy shot back in her seat and snapped her head around to look where her wife was directing her attention. Flushed with embarrassment at being caught, the boys immediately directed their attention elsewhere.

“Sorry, sweetheart. I didn't think anyone would see.”

“Don't worry about it, Mad. I think they're more embarrassed at being caught than you are for being seen.”

The remainder of the trip was quietly spent with the girls looking at the passing scenery and cuddling with each other, while enjoying the quiet moments. Meanwhile, the two boys talked in whispers and avoided any obvious glances in the girl's direction.

When the coach pulled up by the main entrance to the Fairmont Banff Spring's Hotel, the girls quickly got off and started to head for the main doors while the majority of their fellow passengers hung around waiting for their belongings to be extracted from the bus's storage lockers.

“Excuse me … Miss?”

Both girls turned around at the sound of a quiet male voice to see the same two boys who sat opposite them on the coach. As they waited by the hotel doors, they watched them along with their ski equipment, confidently wind their way through the growing group of skiers awaiting the arrival of the Mount Norquay shuttle.

“Yes?” Gaby replied. Almost immediately, neither girl cared for the way the boys were checking them out as they stood in front of them.

“My friend and I just wanted to apologize for any embarrassment we might've caused you girls, on the bus…”

“There was no embarrassment on our part, I assure you...” Gaby confidently answered.

“I love your accent. British … isn't it?”

“You just can't take a hint, can you?” Maddy smirked to herself.

“Yes it is. Now, we really have to go,” Gaby dryly replied.

“Wait!” the one boy asked Gaby while he lightly put his hand on her arm to stop her. “Since we're both staying at Lake Louise, maybe we could buy you two dinner tonight … as a proper apology? By the way … my name's Jeff and this here's Steve.”

There was a cold silence as Maddy watched her wife glare at him while thinking of a suitable response.

“I don't think so,” Gaby quietly, but politely uttered as she gently removed his hand. “Like I said on the coach … my wife an' I are on our ‘Honeymoon'.” To emphasize the point, both girls removed the gloves on their left hand, while the boys stood there frozen in disbelief and wondered how to exit with some grace.

“Shit, Jeff! She was telling the truth, man!” Steve whispered as an aside to his friend.

“How was I to know? I thought she was just giving us a line,” Jeff hissed a little bit louder than he intended. Gaby decided to ‘twist the knife' as she sarcastically berated the pair like two little children, after overhearing the boy's ‘silent' exchange.

“Girls don't give lines ... inflated male egos do! Now, really ... when you watched us kiss ... didn't that tell you anything or are you so full of it to think we did it to turn you on? We know you two were tossing childish glances at us the whole trip ... so ... seeing us cuddle the whole time must've told you something … right? If that's not enough … did I not explicitly tell you it was our ‘Honeymoon'? Now, c'mon guys … how many more clues do you need to tell you that you ‘need not apply'?”

“C'mon, man … I think that's our bus,” Steve weakly mentioned as he pulled Jeff away.

While the girls watched the two boys sheepishly retreat with their egos suitably shredded, Maddy tried unsuccessfully to repress a chuckle. Gaby soon joined her wife's merriment as they abruptly turned and continued to walk, hand-in-hand, to the hotel entrance.

“The cheeky monkey!” Maddy playfully commented as she looked over at her wife.

“Complete and utter bastards is more like it!”

“Oh, don't let it bother you, sweetheart. We'll be gone in the morning … an' it's not like we'll ever see them again. Let's just enjoy our last day here,” Maddy softly advised.

“You're right! Shall we?” Gaby's renewed headlong charge into the hotel was pleasantly slowed when a gentleman exiting the hotel, held the glass and oaken doors open for the girls.

“Ladies?”

“Thank you, kind sir…” Maddy offered as they both smiled sweetly at him when they walked past.

“I guess chivalry still lives,” Gaby quietly gushed.

“Being a girl does have its perks, sweetheart…” Maddy sweetly replied.

When they walked through the ornate lobby and approached the Concierge Desk , a middle-aged gentleman behind the counter stopped his conversation with another staff member and quickly turned his attention to the girls.

“May I help you ladies?”

“Yes. We're staying at the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise…” Gaby began as she drew out their room pass from the zippered pocket on her jacket, as confirmation of their stay. “… an' we have an appointment at your spa later this morning. We'd like to put some items in the hotel safe … if we may?”

“Certainly. If you'll step over to the door at the other end, I'll let you in.”

“If you ladies will follow me, please?” he asked once the girls had stepped through the open doorway.

After a very short walk down a hallway, they were led into a separate room with a walk-in safe. Laying a safety-deposit box on a small table, he also produced a pre-printed form that required their signatures and room number in exchange for the safety-deposit box number and a key. Once the girls had secured their valuables, they continued through the lobby and down stairs to their destination.

“Why did you show that guy our room pass?” Maddy quietly wondered.

“Our hotel is part of the same hotel chain and because of that we can use the safe ... no charge!”

“Oh!”

“Well ... here we are ...The Willow Springs Spa! Shall we go in?” Gaby presented with a grand sweep of her hand, as they stood in front of a double pair of glass doors with polished bronze accents.

“Whatta place! First we walk through a misplaced Scottish castle an' now we enter a Greek temple!” Maddy quietly exclaimed as they entered the spa's reception area.

“Good morning, ladies … may I help you?” the receptionist asked in a cheerful, yet professional, voice.

“Morning. We have a ten-thirty appointment … name's Gaby Bond?” Gaby revealed in a business-like fashion as both girls reached the desk.

“You're a bit early.”

“I know an' you can blame the shuttle schedule for the Chateau Lake Louise.”

“Believe me ... you're not the first to say that. Here you are … ‘Ritual for Two'… ten-thirty,” the receptionist confirmed. “May I get your room number? Oh, I see you've pre-paid! That certainly makes things easier for everybody … doesn't it?”

After entering the girl's room number, she studied her computer monitor while in deep thought.

“Is there a problem?” Gaby inquired.

“Oh, no … just making sure all the i's are dotted and the t's crossed,” she pleasantly answered, while trying to consider how she would diplomatically explain what appeared to be an obvious mistake.

“Didn't anyone explain to these girls that the ‘Ritual for Two' is for couples only? Oh, well … guess it's not too late to change things … hmmm … what's this?”

Scrolling down the page, her attention was drawn to the ‘additional comments' noted at the bottom of screen . “Makes sense now ... Nadia's expecting these two …”

“Okay! Everything's all set. Has it been explained that we'd like all of our guests to be here thirty minutes prior to their scheduled appointments?”

“That's mentioned on your website,” Gaby replied.

“Well, then … if you have nothing else planned and you definitely have some time to kill … may I suggest a relaxing dip in one of our two pools until you're scheduled to begin your appointment? There's no additional charge.'

“Sounds great,” Gaby agreed after looking over to check with Maddy.

“Good! Dawn will be working with you today as your private therapist, so I'll have her come out and get you two fixed up with a locker and show you where the pools are. We have an indoors 32-metre lap pool and a 20-metre outdoor, heated pool … that's open year around. Just let her know which one you'd like.”

“The outdoor pool, Gabs … please?” Maddy quietly enthused as she made her choice known. Gaby looked at her wife and while gently squeezing her hand, nodded her agreement with a smile.

“If I can just get the two of you to sign in … right here, Dawn will get you two started.” As the girls signed the registry, the young receptionist added, “Thank you. We hope you'll enjoy your time with us!”

Later, as the three walked towards the women's change rooms, Dawn took the opportunity to let the girls know about the different services the spa offered including the fitness centre.

“I'll come to get you two later when it's time to begin your appointment. Here're your lockers. You'll find two robes already inside. If you're walking around in the public areas of the spa … the rule is … robes over your bathing suits.”

“I guess you're wondering about the lock?” Dawn joked as Maddy was examining the locker.

“I was just about to ask for the code.”

“”You set your own three-digit code like this,” Dawn offered while demonstrating how to set the code. “It's a lot better system than making you keep track of a key. We do ask that you set it back to 0-0-0 when you leave.”

“Ummm … Dawn?” Maddy nervously asked. “Gaby?”

“I suspect she knows, darling…” Gaby softly confided, knowing what was on Maddy's mind.

“I knew this package was for couples, so I felt it best to come clean an' explain we'd be on our ‘Honeymoon'. I didn't want any problems ... not now ... not today...”

“Thank you, sweetheart,” Maddy softly voiced as she gently rubbed the palm of her hand against Gaby's cheek. Turning to face Dawn, Maddy felt she had to say something by way of an explanation.

“While we're open about our relationship … we don't toss it in everyone's face … but … we don't hide it either … an' seeing how you'll be staying with us today, I didn't want you to feel uncomfortable because of us.”

“This should be interesting … swimming in an outdoor pool in December at the height of a Canadian winter!” Maddy enthused.

When they approached the glass doors, they hesitated a bit before venturing out into the cold air. After a few seconds to work up their courage and determine the quickest route across the wooden deck and into the steaming water, the girls flung open the doors and calmly stepped outside in their two-piece bathing suits.

“Ya know the ‘rents will think we're bonkers, don'tcha?” Gaby put in as they dropped their towels on a waist-high wooden box that was sat against the wall by the doors.

“Maybe … but I betcha that if we told them we were enjoying a glass of champagne while in the pool … both our mom's would think it positively romantic!” Maddy playfully offered.

“Sounds like Mum,” Gaby smirked as the girls slipped into the heated water. “Mmmmm … this is lovely! Looks like we got the pool all to ourselves, too!”

“Everyone's probably skiing … still … all the better for us, innit?” Maddy cheerfully commented.

Once in the water, they took more time to look at their surroundings. The open-air pool was surrounded by a richly stained wood deck and an eight-foot high Plexiglas partition that afforded bathers a breath-taking vista of the thick Pine forests and surrounding mountains, on three sides.

“Wotta view!” Maddy breathed.

“The water temp certainly lives up to advanced billing. I'd have absolutely no problem getting use to this,” Gaby quietly confessed as she slowly sunk down up to her neck in the heated water.

With what only seemed like a few minutes later, Dawn appeared at the door and beckoned the girls to come in to begin their appointment.

“Now, as part of your pre-treatment relaxation period … you two have your choice of a whirlpool or sauna … followed by either a cold shower or a cold drink in the lounge,” she explained as they walked.

“The purpose of all this is to increase the movement of toxins from your body by helping to open up your breathing, as well as to cleanse and detoxify and warm the muscles. Following the whirlpool or sauna with either a cold shower or relaxing with a cold drink, just helps bring your body temperature back to normal before your treatment.”

“I think after the pool, we best go with the sauna and the cold drink. Wotcha think, Gabs?”

“Yeah ... I can dry my hair ... just need to get my brush,” Gaby playfully remarked.

“Fine. I'll meet you a bit later, in the lounge … okay? The drink list is posted outside the doors. Let one of the attendants know your choice and she'll bring it to you,” Dawn replied as they walked through the facility.

“Well, here we are … enjoy! The sauna is behind these doors and the lounge is straight down the hall … can't miss it! See you guys later.”

Later as promised, Dawn wandered into the lounge and had the girls follow her out and down a maze of corridors to a pair of solid Pine doors with brass door-handles.

“Welcome to your private suite, ladies...” she stated with a flair as she opened the doors for the girls.

“After you! You'll find that this suite has a private bathroom and a separate shower. Through here, you'll find a sitting area with a small fridge stocked with some bottled water and a few lite snacks.” Following their brief tour, Dawn led them into the centrepiece of the suite.

“Finally … here is where you'll both be receiving your spa treatments. Lisa will be joining me later, when it's time for your massages. You're scheduled for two hours … so … for the first little while, I'll instruct both of you how to give each other a mineral scrub … then you're on your own…”

“I'm sure you know by now that in the privacy of your suite, clothing … is optional. Some client's we've had prefer to wear undergarments during their spa treatments … but it's totally up to you … any questions? No? … Great! Let's get started.” Without another word, the girls silently hung their robes up on the furnished wall hooks and removed their bathing suits.

“That was a quick decision…” Dawn joked.

“Easy choice…” Maddy casually answered.

“Okay … now, if Maddy will get up on this table … on your stomach …I'll give you both a lesson in applying a mineral scrub,” Dawn began. “Gaby … I'll talk you through it …but let's move her hair out of the way first … good. Now … beginning with the back…”

A short time later when Dawn felt they had the technique down, she started to leave the room, but not before issuing some final instructions with a knowing smile.

“Just remember … when doing the arms and legs, to be sure to get the knees and elbows … and to brush her off with the loofah after you finish each area. When you're all done … you can apply this lotion … all over. Lisa and I will be back in about forty minutes for your massages … enjoy ladies!”

Later, when the two therapists returned, they found both girls relaxing in the sitting room over a tumbler of ice water. While Lisa went ahead to prepare the tables in main room, Dawn stayed and briefly chatted with the girls.

“Lisa's just gone to set the mood … you know … dim the lights … light a few softly scented candles … put on some nice … soft … relaxing music…”

“Kinda sounds like a dream ‘date',” Gaby offered.

“Does, doesn't it?” Dawn whimsically agreed.

Even though the girls chuckled at Dawn's comparison, Maddy dreamily added, “We've had a few like that.”

“Well … before this ‘date' is over, you two still have a side-by-side full-body massage,” Dawn playfully offered.

“Of the four different scents or blends offered with this Aromatherapy massage, Gaby chose our ‘Soothing' blend. It's suppose to help you thoroughly relax. So … are you two ready?”

Dawn had the girls top up their drinks before they adjourned into the main room where Lisa was already waiting for them.

“Guys … time you met Lisa. Lisa … this is Maddy … and Gaby. They're visiting from Germany by way of England…”

“Hi, Lisa…” Both girls chorused.

“Okay, ladies … pick a table! On your stomachs, please. I probably know the answer, but … would either of you feel more comfortable, draped?” Dawn asked while holding two folded sheets. When she received a shaking of the head from both girls, she playfully added, “Didn't think so…”

As she was rubbing a blob of scented oil in her hands to allow them to glide smoothly over skin, Lisa had already started to massage the sides of Gaby's neck and work up to her temples. Soon, both therapists were working in concert at an identical slow, relaxing pace. Except for the frequent appreciative groans, conversation was minimal to allow the girls to totally relax while the two masseuses worked their magic.

“Mmmmm … ahhhh … that feels really good!” Maddy mumbled into the doughnut shaped support pad that surrounded her face.

“Is this your first massage, Maddy?” Dawn inquired as she was kneading the tension out of Maddy's shoulders.

“Uh huh … but … Gabs gets them all the time after a race or training.”

“Not ... like … this! An' I thought Monique was good … mmmm…” Gaby murmured as Lisa was concentrating on her left shoulder blade. “Ahhhh … that feels … sooooo … lovely…”

“Monique?” Lisa asked.

“She's one of the masseuse's with the team …” Gaby purred.

“Gaby's a professional cyclist with Team Apollinaris, in Germany, Lisa…” Dawn explained to her confused co-worker.

“Interesting…” Lisa conceded as she continued to work Gaby's shoulders and neck.

Pausing only to apply more oil to their hands, both therapists continued to slowly work down the length of the girl's bodies. Once they got to their feet, Dawn asked them to flip onto their backs.

Staring with the right leg, they began massaging the shins and working their way up to the hips. Once they completed the one leg, they switched sides to do the other leg. As they started to work the upper body, Dawn had to chuckle at Maddy's attempts to control her reactions.

“Don't worry about it, Maddy … it's not uncommon … more so with the women than the men,” Dawn offered in a calm and reassuring voice. She then began to concentrate on the chest area, which tested Maddy's resolve even further. “Oh gawd … Gabeee!”

When Maddy was done, she sat up on the table and looked over to see Gaby still lying on her back with her eyes closed.

“I'm done, Gaby … time to wake-up,” Lisa softly spoke while leaning in, close to her face.

“I'm awake … just restin' me eyes,” Gaby quietly insisted.

“Hmmm … you sound like my Dad after a Christmas dinner … and we don't believe him either!” Lisa playfully countered.

“You just gave Lisa the biggest compliment a masseuse could get, Gaby … falling asleep!” Dawn chuckled as Gaby sat up and started to get off the table.

Following a quick tidy, Lisa said her good-byes and left to go elsewhere while Dawn let the girls know what was happening next.

“I'll bring in a lite lunch here. Then after about a half-hour, I'll take you to our salon.”

“Salon? As in ‘beauty salon'?” Maddy softly asked. “Just what have you got in mind, sweetheart?”

“Nothing fancy, really … just a shampoo an' blow dry Oh! … An' getting our nails done … all of ‘em,” Gaby playfully revealed as they waited for lunch.

“That concludes the ‘Ritual for Two' portion of your Spa experience. Gaby mentioned that this was your first time, Maddy … whaddya think?” Dawn cheerfully asked.

“Heaven! I could get used to all this very easily … especially that full-body massage,” Maddy dreamily replied.

After checking off their choices from a menu, the girls put their bathing suits and robes back on while Dawn went to get their food. A short time later, a knock on the door announced she was back with their lunch. When she left and closed the door behind her, Maddy stood in front of her wife and swept her up in a loving embrace.

“Thank you, sweetheart. I can't describe how lovely this week has been … but … there's always tonight…” Maddy seductively whispered as she drew Gaby into a very long and intense kiss. Minutes later, they parted after deciding to breathe.

“ Nein Schlaf?” Gaby murmured in that soft, sexy, pout of hers that Maddy loved so much.

“That's right ... no sleep…” Maddy softly confirmed. Following a lingering kiss on the lips, they somewhat reluctantly turned their attention to their lunch. Later, Dawn was at the door.

“Time to move on, ladies. Oh, don't worry about that… just leave those dishes.”

After they took a last glance around, the girls followed her as they wound their way through the spa complex to the salon and shortly after entering the double glass doors, they found themselves standing in front of the reception desk.

“Angela? … This is Gaby and Maddy Bond … I believe Nadia had scheduled them.”

“Let me check … ah, yes … here they are,” Angela replied while studying her computer monitor. “If you ladies would like to have a seat over there … Ann and Sarah will be out shortly.”

“You can leave your robes in your locker, after you change … please remember to reset the access code back to zeroes and leave the door open when you leave,” Dawn instructed as she got ready to move on to her next client.

“I now leave you two in their capable hands. This is where I say good-bye and I hope you've enjoyed your Spa experience. On a personal note … I really enjoyed working with both of you,” Dawn allowed as Ann and Sarah approached the three women.

“Thank you. We've certainly enjoyed every minute of our time here,” Gaby replied as Dawn left to return to her work.

“Maddy? … Gaby? I'm Ann and this is Sarah. I'll be your stylist, Maddy … and Sarah will be yours, Gaby. I was told you both want just a shampoo and a blow-dry … is that correct?”

“Yes,” Gaby replied.

“Okay, if you'll come with us, then … we can get started.”

“I understand you're together?” Ann knowingly asked as they walked back towards their respective stations

“Yes…” Maddy hesitatingly replied.

“Relax … Sarah and I won't bite. Both of you from England?”

“Born an' raised … but now we live in Germany.”

“I've travelled a fair bit in Germany … where's home?” Ann ventured.

“Mayschoß. It's a small village in the Ahr Valley … near Bad Neuenahr.”

“I've been there … Bad Neuenahr, I mean. We'll talk later … when I'm working on you,” Ann whispered as they arrived at their stations.

“How would you ladies like your hair trimmed?" Sarah began as she stood by her sink. "We can leave it straight across and just trim the ends as needed, leaving the length essentially the same … or we can shape it just a bit.”

“I think you should stick with what you have now, sweetheart … any shaping would probably give Tina nightmares when she braids it.”

“You braid it?” Sarah questioned.

“I usually wear it in a single braid when I'm out on a bike,” Gaby explained.

“In that case … I would agree with keeping your current style and I'll just trim the ends.”

“You part it in the middle or the side? Sarah asked.

“The middle.”

“How about you, Maddy?” Ann asked.

"Long, like Gaby's ... but with a side part.”

"Okay … that was easy! Now, if you'll change into these smocks in the room behind you … there's a small closet and hangers for your robes, in there. When you come back out, we'll get started," Sarah pleasantly instructed them as she offered them two neatly folded bundles.

Once the girls returned, Ann and Sarah walked them to another station where two ‘shampoo girls' waited to wash their hair.

“This is Leslie and Beth. They'll take good care of you,” Sarah mentioned.

“We'll wake you two in a bit, okay?” Ann joked as both her and Sarah turned to go back to their stations to prepare for the girls.

“I see what she meant by ‘waking us',” Maddy purred a short time later as Leslie was working the shampoo into her hair and massaging her scalp.

“Ohhh … don't I know…” Gaby quietly agreed as she closed her eyes and relaxed under Beth's spell. “Think you can learn to do this?”

“Only if you do…” Maddy joked.

After a while, the girl's hair was thoroughly cleansed and the excess water squeezed out. Letting Beth and Leslie loosely wrap their damp hair in a towel, both girls sat up to see Ann and Sarah waiting for them.

“So … we were talking about Bad Neuenahr,” Ann began as Maddy and her, were walking back to her station. “I was there last May. My husband and I were visiting his aunt ... picturesque city. I loved wandering around the old part … very friendly people, too.”

“It's hard not to fall in love with the place,” Maddy agreed as she lowered herself into Ann's chair. “Gaby and I were married in the Town Church.”

“Is that the big one in the centre of town? Sits right on the public square?” Ann casually asked.

“It's not really that big … just lovely an' old … but that's it.”

“On the last Saturday before flying home, Glen and I were there and caught a wedding coming out of the church … couldn't get over how they just waded into the townspeople on the square,” Ann causally mentioned.

“I think it's a bit of a tradition that the newlyweds celebrate with their neighbours,” Maddy uttered. “We enjoyed it, when it came our time.

“That's a lovely tra… Ann's train of thought abruptly ended as she paused to look at Maddy's face and then looked over at Gaby.

“Something wrong?” Maddy asked smiling to herself.

“Umm … sorry,” Ann apologized as she collected her thoughts. After a short pause, her conversation changed direction. “You said you were married in Bad Neuenahr.”

“… in the Town Church,” Maddy confirmed by finishing Ann's sentence.

“When?” Ann cautiously asked.

“Last May,” Maddy replied with a straight face. The conversation paused while Ann thought things through as she absently reached for her wide-toothed comb.

“Okay. I feel like we're playing twenty questions here … but … when in May?” Ann playfully asked as she began spraying more detangler and combing out Maddy's hair.

“May 18 th … why?” Maddy coyly asked, hardly able to suppress the broad grin she felt building up inside as she suspected where the conversation was heading.

“May 18 th ,” Ann thoughtfully echoed “Then … it was you … and … Gaby … that we saw?”

“Small world, innit?” Maddy confirmed, through a wide grin.

As Sarah was starting to trim Gaby's ends, Ann turned to her and called out over the short distance between their adjacent stations, “Sarah? Remember me telling you about the trip to Germany Glen and I took last May?”

“What about it?”

“I mentioned the wedding we saw in Bad Neuenahr ... right?”

“Yeah … what about it?”

“Guess whose wedding it was…” Ann smugly replied as she glanced at both the girls.

“Really?” Sarah quietly squealed.

When she came and looked at the face of the attractive but somewhat drowned blonde sitting in her chair, Gaby coyly smiled back while giving her a shy little finger wave. Sarah was quickly immersed in conversation about the wedding while she continued working on her hair.

Ann resumed Maddy's interrogation while she finished trimming her ends and setting up to dry her hair. ‘Talk' was ended as both hair driers started up and the stylists concentrated on their work. As a finishing touch, the girl's opted for a little bit of a ‘reverse' curl at the ends so their hair hung nicely, but they declined the offer of a fixing spay to hold the shape.

“Kind of pointless really, considering that we'll just have to put our ski jackets on … but (looking at Maddy) you two have done beautiful work,” Gaby fussed, then whimsically added, “Too bad we couldn't take you back with us.”

“Elsa would probably be glad to make room for these two,” Maddy half-joked.

“Thank you” Sarah and Ann chorused.

“It's always nice to hear a satisfied customer,” Ann playfully added.

“You girls can put your robes back on … just leave the smocks in the room,” Sarah casually commented.

The girls quickly changed back into their robes and returned to where Ann and Sarah were waiting as two attractive Oriental ladies came into view and their stylists said their good-byes.

“Nails…” Gaby softly smiled while reminding her wife. A minute later, they were being introduced to Lin and Mya who promptly took them back to their stations where all their various tools and products for nail care, were kept.

“How would you like your nails? Maybe acrylic or nail extensions?” Mya asked neither one in particular.

“I think I'd best stay away from anything like that and just get them filed and shaped,” Gaby explained. “If my nails are too long … it could interfere with my job.”

Mya took Gaby's hand as she led her to sit at her station.

“I see you're not wearing any nail polish now. Is there any colour you would wish or maybe you would prefer a simple clear coat?”

“I think I'll go with the clear coat.”

“As you wish.”

With those simple three words Mya began to work on Gaby's nails, beginning with a footbath of bath salts and a pleasant, warm orange scented soak to relax her hands.

Following the soak, Mya went to work shaping Gaby's nails and trimming her cuticles, then finishing up by applying a clear coat to her nails. Moving quickly to her feet, she repeated the process for the toenails. Like her finger nails, a clear coat was applied to Gaby's toenails.

Meanwhile, Lin was working on Maddy. Since she too, worked with her hands, Maddy opted to follow her wife and get a basic manicure/pedicure with a clear coat.

Except to ask about their preferences, both girls spoke little, but went about their work very efficiently. When they were finished, they thanked the two nail technicians and then left the salon to make their way back to their locker.

"How're we gonna tip all these people, sweetheart? Our wallets are upstairs in the hotel's safe," Maddy whispered as they were changing back into their clothes.

"All taken care of. The Spa includes the tip in the price for each service." As soon as they were changed, they made sure the locker code was reset as Dawn requested and then made their way out of the Spa and back upstairs to the main lobby.

“I'll be glad when we get our rings back on, sweetheart…” Maddy offered as they stepped off the top stair.

“Me too, Mad. I haven't taken them off since our wedding. It doesn't feel right...” Gaby tenderly replied as she took hold of Maddy's hand and gave it a gentle squeeze.

The girls wasted no time in going to the Concierge Desk and gaining access to their safety-deposit box in the hotel safe. The desk clerk waited outside the room while they retrieved their wallets and put each other's wedding rings back on their respective ring fingers, where they belonged. As quick as they were to get to their belongings, they returned the safety-deposit box key and headed off to the hotel's main entrance .

~~~

"Excuse me? … I've made arrangements for a limousine to take the two of us ... me an' her (pointing to Maddy) ... back to the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise …I was told at the Concierge Desk that you'd notify the driver that we were ready."

“Certainly, Miss …” the Doorman replied. “Name please?”

“Gaby Bond.”

“Thank you.” After getting her name, he picked up a phone and made the required call.

“Should be here in a minute or two, Miss...” he announced after he put the receiver back on its cradle.

“Thank you.” Gaby took the opportunity to slip the gentleman a tip as she and Maddy went outside to await the limousine's arrival. Shortly after they walked through the doors and onto the wide curb, their ride was pulling up to the doors.

When the car came to a stop, the driver got out and looked at Gaby as Maddy stood cuddling one of her arms.

“Are either of you two ladies, Gaby Bond?”

“I am.”

The driver then quickly walked around the car and opened the back door for the girls. For a brief moment, they stood alternating their gaze between the driver, the car and each other, before Maddy broke the silence.

“You ordered a stretched limo … for us?” Maddy asked her wife.

“I'm just as surprised as you are, Mad … it's a nice surprise … but still…” Gaby admitted as she turned to the chauffeur in hopes of an explanation. “It's only just the two of us.”

“Luck of the draw, ladies! Technically, I should take you in one of the regular limos … but the hotel called saying they have need for this one back at the Chateau later tonight … and since we're short a driver today … I figured I might as well deliver you and the car at the same time, rather than make a special trip back here to pick this up … if … you have no objections, that is…” he explained with a smile.

“Nooo … no objections,” Maddy replied, slowly shaking her head side-to-side and wearing a wide grin as both girls looked at each other.

“Sorry I can't restock the bar until I get back to Lake Louise … but you're quite welcome to whatever is in there.”

“Thank you,” the girls cheerfully chorused. As each girl started to enter the limousine, they gratefully accepted the chauffeur's assistance by way of a steadying hand. A short time later, they were on the Trans-Canada Highway #1, heading out of Banff towards Lake Louise.

“You're quiet all of a sudden, darling … anything wrong?” Gaby softly asked. Maddy closed her eyes and snuggled into her wife's arms, laying her head gently upon her shoulder.

“No … just thinking ...” Maddy weakly whispered as she lifted her head and looked deep into her wife's eyes .

“About?”

“Nothing … everything,” Maddy dreamily replied while she proceeded to cuddle up against Gaby's side as much as the limousine's seating would allow.

“Sweetheart?” Maddy murmured after a short period of silence.

“Hmmm?”

“When do we leave?”

“One in the morning … why?”

“Hardly worth going to bed … is it?”

“We've got a seven PM dinner reservation in the ‘Fairmont Dining Room'. That should kill a couple of hours.”

“Does that mean I get to dress up and look beautiful for you?” Maddy playfully asked.

“As far as I'm concerned, you're always beautiful,” Gaby softly answered.

“Sweetheart...”

“Yes, darling?” Gaby could see Maddy was at a loss for words.

As she stared into her wife's hazel eyes, Maddy could feel the tears of joy beginning to run down her cheek. She did the only thing left open to her. Putting her one hand, gently behind Gaby's head, she pulled her into a long and very passionate, kiss. Eventually breaking for air, she decided to take the opportunity to continue asking about plans for their last evening in Lake Louise.

“So what about the rest of the evening ... besides packing?”

“If you want, I guess we could check out the Glacier Saloon ... or maybe just stay in our room ... but ... whatever we do ... we'll have to be checked out and be in the lobby with our luggage when the shuttle arrives around midnight.”

“I'm sure we'll think of something,” Maddy suggestively implied.

(to be continued)