The OWLS Club

by Arking

©Copyright 2022 by Arking

From the Author: This is the start of 22 chapters. This story is about a group of people, an actual place, and a dream. The actual story is a work of pure fiction. None of the characters are real people, nor do they represent real people. It is a slow burn, with a lot of romance and some gratuitous sex. It is based in Australia so I have used the local language. There are some Italian and French conversations, so if you want to really become attached to the characters I strongly recommend you use a Google translator. It will help with the flow of the conversations. [I gave in to many requests and put the English translation in as well] As I use the Queen's English, I am not suggesting there aren't any errors, just some words are spelled my Australian way, I will apologise in advance to my American friends for the correct spelling of those words. Some of the place names are correct.

Note from ahorsewithnoname: Well, Arking came to my website in May of 2022, 70+ year old lesbian, openly gay and a Domme. She wrote a few stories, had some convesations, and then abruptly was gone. Don't know if she just got bored, lost internet access, or something, well, worse. That's the problem with anonymity, most times you simply never know. A good storyteller, she could have used a proofreader. As per our site rules, we're publishing her work now. We hope for the best for her.

Chapter 1 -- A Vacancy & Blue Prints.

The property at number 7 Divitt Street, Port Adelaide had been in my family since it was built by them in 1863. It consists of two floors and a cellar. It was built of a local stone, as was the norm back then. It was suggested at various times that the cellar hid secret passages to the wharf, so smugglers could move their contraband unseen by the local constabulary. No such passages were ever found so maybe they didn't exist, according to our family records and the original blueprints. I did bother to go looking, as a child, but even with my vivid imagination, I couldn't find them, if they ever existed at all.

First, it was a shipping office, for the Melbourne Steamship Company, which it was named after. Then a logistics office, then a cartage merchant, and finally in 1911 a solicitors office. It remained so, and the same firm of solicitors had been the sole leasee since that time.

As the current family matriarch, it fell to me to look after and control the family businesses as is my want. Who am I, I hear you ask? I am Kathleen Ambrose. There is no board of directors or any such thing, it was purely a family-held group of businesses in and around the Port of Adelaide.

Along with myself, I have a brother, who I consulted from time to time. We aren't exactly close but along with his two children and their broods that was all the family I have. They enjoy some benefits of the course and in time when I am no longer around one of those will take over.

Yes, it had made us wealthy, the rents were not cheap in the Port, but then again the maintenance on these old buildings, so close to the river, was somewhat extensive and expensive.

Life was good for our family. The family name was well respected and we were considered to be 'good people'. We supported local sporting clubs and charities. Held annual events on the river, rowing, and sailing, and we supported the local 'Save Our Dolphins group.'

Opening a letter from Cahill & Sons Solicitors was not uncommon, they wrote to us frequently, listing the number of repairs that needed doing. Old man Cahill was in his eighties now and his letter stated that as his sons and nephews were only interested in working in the city, they were going to relocate their offices and would not be continuing with the lease after it expires at the end of the next month.

"Bugga," I said quietly to myself, not that we needed their rent but it was reliable and they were never late. I picked up the phone and rang the old man. I could have rung his mobile number but I knew he wouldn't answer it. So using the landline I rang his switchboard. A pretty voice answered the phone. She got halfway through her opening spiel before I interjected. "Hello Carol, sorry to cut you off, it's Kathleen Ambrose here, for Horace, please."

"Yes Miss Ambrose, just one moment please." Came the reply.

"Morning Kathleen." The old man said, he was still bright and cheery for an 86year old. "Sorry I didn't ring in advance, but I clean forgot after I wrote that darn letter. Hope it doesn't inconvenience you too much sweet lady?"

Horace was a charmer, I'm sure he would have been a handful in his youth. I had known him all of my adult working life, which means I have known him for 42 years. Always the gentleman. Old-world charm, mixed with impeccable manners, sharp wit, and a glorious sense of timing. To picture him, think of Winston Churchill, but better looking and far more polite.

"Horace" I replied, "There is nothing you could do that would inconvenience me," I told him. "We will be sorry to see you go and I will miss our monthly lunch at Carmine's," I told him. "You do know nothing is stopping you from driving down from the city to join me for lunch is there?"

"Kathleen, nothing stopping me other than I am going to be working from home, up in the hills from now on. So the boys can have the swish city offices, and clientele, while I will look after my old favorite clients from home" He told me.

"I will miss you my dear old friend" I replied.

"Enough of the old thank you." He retorted.

We said our goodbyes and promised to keep in touch, which would be harder now of course. And that is how Ambrose House at number 7 Divett Street in the Port became vacant.

I took my time to talk to the local Real Estate agents, just to see what the market was like. Everyone offered their services. I was just as happy to leave it until it was empty and then have a good look around to see what we could do with it. Besides, I had a real estate agent that worked for me, but I like to keep people on their toes.

Talking with my brother Terence, he had some ideas, to turn them into 2 apartments and to sell each floor off while maintaining ownership of the actual building. I did give that some serious thought. Or just convert them into apartments and rent them out. I learned we could triple the current lease, it seems living in these older buildings had become rather a vogue. And Port Adelaide was an up-and-coming sort after postcode to be seen in.

I found the old blueprints, which were useless, the changes that had been made in 159 years made the original blueprints pointless unless as my niece, Miriam, and her gorgeous daughter Emily, suggested, we turn them into some wall art. I laughed and chuckled to myself.

"I tell you what Emily my love, you can have them on the proviso that you don't sell them off. You may do with them what you wish." I told them. They smiled and thanked me.

I engaged a local architect to draft up some plans and costs to convert each floor. I knew it wouldn't be cheap but was shocked when the preliminary costs came in. Again this architect was no ordinary architect. Erica had made herself a wonderful reputation, she had succeeded in a profession that was dominated by men. In the world of architecture, a woman is someone who sat at the front desk and answers phones. I had used Erica Wilson and associates, exclusively since I first met her, some ten years before.

To look at her reminded me of Tina Louise who played Ginger on Gilligan's Island, stunningly beautiful. She was a redhead, with pale skin, and freckles, over her nose, tall and slim for a person in her late 30s. Well-spoken and well presented. Listens didn't need to take notes, had an excellent memory, could offer an opinion without offending, and was a very likable person.

The first job I gave her was a small job to convert some small old shops, circa the 1950s into something more modern and a place where up-and-coming professionals would want to work and be seen. She nailed it with her first sketches, did a full costing and building schedule, engaged the builder, brought it in on time and budget, that in itself impressed me, then got her friend Anita Reynolds from the Real Estate Markets, Pty Ltd, to get them leased. I didn't have to do a thing, except paying the bill. Which I did, willingly.

I said to the architect, Erica "Oh wow, did you put an extra digit on the end of this or something?"

She smiled at me and explained. "My fees will come later." She said with a smirk and a wink.

"Most of the costs will be in the separate plumbing and electricity supply. Each apartment would need its title, hence its sewage and water and electrical board. This means upgrading the street, apparently sewage and electricity it is almost at maximum now and these two apartments would send it over the limit. If you want to blame someone, blame those warehouse conversations down the other end of the street. They took up most of the free space two years ago. So Kathleen my love, guess what, you would be up for the complete upgrade of the street."

I looked at the costs again and then did some mental arithmetic, even if we took out a loan, which we would get at a rock bottom rate, money is cheap at the moment. It would still mean the cost of each apartment if we were to sell them would put them well over the 2.5 million dollar mark. And that would only give us a small markup. At a time when the property is getting a premium price, that wasn't a good deal.

"Can you get Anita from the Real Estate market on speaker for me, please?"

She looked at me, smiled, and told me "I know who Anita is and where she works you realise." I somehow knew Erica would have her on speed dial, and a quick flick of a few buttons had the phone ringing at the other end.

As I heard the phone being picked up after just two rings, Erica jumped in first. "Annie my sweet, you are on the speaker. I'm here with Kathleen Ambrose." I was surprised by the use of her pet name for Anita. Annie was always Erica's way of using Anita's name as a term of endearment. Unusual I know but that was our Erica through and through.

Silence for a couple of seconds, she then put on her business voice. "Hi, Kathleen, what do I owe the pleasure?"

I inwardly smiled, knowing these two were very close, "Hi Anita, I need to pick your brains on the going rate of upmarket apartments in the Port."

"OK" came the reply, "what's the address. " She asked.

"Divett Street, if we go ahead with it?" I told her.

"That's a good location, right in the middle of the wining and dining area. How big are they going to be?" Anita enquired.

I looked at Erica who jumped in, "375squ meters each, off-street parking for 2 vehicles each, single door entrance, front and back, fully secured and no lift." Anita was told. "One ground floor and a first floor."

"Sounds nice, and all upmarket fittings." She asked again. To which Erica replied, "Yes, and clients choice of décor and layout."

"OK, so it will be sold off the plan then." Anita wanted to know. "Most likely, with a 6 to 8 month build time, Annie it is just a ballpark figure hon, we are just crunching numbers at the moment I promise we won't hold you to it."

"Promise Anita." I chipped in, I was going to use Erica's pet name for her but thought better of it. After all, it was Erica's to use, not mine.

Without missing a beat she continued, I heard her pounding away on a keyboard, most likely a calculator, "OK current market trends I would say start at 1.6 and it might go up to 1.9, 2 if the Chinese want them and get involved."

I rolled my eyes and my demeanor changed.

"What would I need to do to get them over 2.75 or 3?" I asked in a more business tone of voice.

"Sorry Kathleen, the market isn't there yet, I don't think there is anything you could do."

"What a bugga, hey. Oh well, it was worth thinking about." I told them both. "Thank you for your help you two, I owe you both a lunch."

Erica picked up the phone and spoke quietly to Anita, "Dinner tonight at Carmine's, OK what about the British then. Tell you what, you make up your mind then call me back when you are ready OK." She put the phone down rather sharply. Stood over her desk and then apologised to me.

"Sorry about that."

I could see the hurt in her eyes.

"No need to apologise, we've all been there at different times," I explained to her.

"Is she unsure about you or herself?" I asked.

"I think she is worried it might harm her business if it became common knowledge." She stated.

"What we need is a place of our own. We need a place where no one cares who or what you are. Where us girls can just go and relax." She explained.

Again I just looked at her hurt and nodded, this girl had fallen hard.

"Ah," I said. "A perfect world, where love is love and we are all blinded by the love of two people, heh?"

"Back to business," I told her. "Put this in the too-hard basket for now. I might just clean it up and seek some sort of business tenants."

I watched as she rolled up the drawings and filled them away in her plans rack. She went up on her tippy toes and I watched as her skirt pulled tight over her backside and thought to myself, 'what woman wouldn't want to have dinner with you, you cutie'.

When she came back to her desk, she shuffled some papers and put them into the 'AMBROSE' file and listed it as 7D. She had quite a few of the properties she had worked on. A very competent architect was our Erica.

"Since you are free tonight, I am catching up with a few of the girls and we are going to share a few bottles of wine with Swifty in her wine Bar. Join us. You will enjoy yourself, and trust me nobody will care less who or what you are. But be warned, we do get loud and enjoy carrying on. 7 pm don't be late and no I won't accept a negative answer." I told her.

She smiled and nodded, "OK 7 o'clock it is."

Chapter 2 -- The Garden of Unearthly Delights.

The Korked Wine bar is not a gay or lesbian bar per se, but there is a small sign just above the front entrance, 'Leave all of your prejudices here and collected them on your way out.' And in the four corners of the main window, you will see 4 rainbows. Ashley Taylor or Swifty as she was referred to, was the owner, barkeep and general all-round good 'guy'. Except she wasn't a guy. She and her long term business partner, Ellie, who was her lover, the mother of their daughter and her wife, had been together for close to 30 years. She was also known as the chief cook and bottle washer and whenever anyone become too obnoxious or drank more than they were capable of handling, she acted as the door person and taxi cab hailer.

I can never remember Ellie having to actually throw someone out, maybe it was the wall plaques and the Olympic Gold Medal framed on the wall, plus the many photos of her with high profile performers. She in fact acted as a Personal Protection Officer for most international music acts and performers that toured Australia in her younger days. It was rumoured that Mick Jagger won't tour Australia unless she is available. A safe place for a group of more mature citizens to share a bottle of good Australian wine, or two or three bottles more likely. The fact these older women, were also gay, didn't seem to bother anyone else there.

At seven o'clock on a Friday night we old girls gather for a friendly chat, a small group of us, have become a bit of an institution there. We don't cause trouble, well not a lot of trouble, but we have been known to be told to behave, or was it 'act your age'.

Korked is located in an L shaped building, with the little leg of the L becoming 'ours' and is also close to both the beer garden out the back and the conveniences. This means over the course of the evening we get to see nearly all of the female patrons come and go. It isn't uncommon for our group to grow from 5 or 6 to over a dozen by closing time. Many cheeky girls have lost their panties to one of us. And to be taken into the garden, which we renamed the 'Garden of Unearthly Delights', it was said it was an experience that many remembered and returned only on a Friday night to relive their experience.

There the names were etched into the tables in the garden, and they were the women who claimed to be 'straight' but found out they were 'spaghetti' women. That Friday night was no different. The same old girls turned up, some with a partner in tow. Normally a pretty younger lady, it seems we all had similar tastes when it came to women. We liked them younger, pretty and well developed. Not all of us but most of us.

We were at the table and chatting away, when Erica arrived, on her own, I did the introductions. There was Caroline, with her exotic French accent, or was it Dutch, maybe she was from Belgium. Ann the policewoman by day and a keeper of the peace when with us, Judith and Jane, with Jenifer sitting at the head of the table or was it the foot. We kept switching the name depending on who was sitting there.

We weren't known as the OWLS then, no, that came later.

Erica nodded as I went around the table. I reminded everyone that she was my guest and to behave themselves. Which was cryptic for not taking her into the garden and relieving her of her panties. There was no way she would remember everyone's name but at least she could hold a conversation with whomever she chooses. She could be herself. She sat next to me and I gave her a kiss one on each cheek, as friends would do and patted her arm. I excused myself to get her a glass and a bottle of Penfolds 2019 Kalimna Shiraz Bin 28. Not asking what she wanted to drink.

I poured her a rather large glass full of the beautiful red wine, a dark rich colour, full of flavor. She thanked me, and we raised glasses and took a sip. Then she thanked me again as her eyes lit up.

We chatted about this and that, as she watched the interaction of the group at our table. The music from Ben Ford Davies was a mixture of old favourites and his own. As the night wore on our group became louder as we demolished bottle after bottle of wine and sang along to Ben. Erica watched as first Ann took a very attractive redhead out into the garden and it was some forty minutes until they returned, both looking a little dishevelled. She introduced her to everyone as Gina, a gymnast no less. We all said our hello, I raised my eyebrows in admiration, a gymnast I thought to myself, nice.

Then Caroline took a young woman, out there and not long came back with a smile and winked at me, which told me she had someone's knickers in her hand. She quickly drank her glass of wine and disappeared outside for a second helping of her young friend.

Erica leaned over and whispered to me, "What have they been up to?" With a smile on her face.

"They have checked out our Garden of Unearthly Delights." I told her.

And then went on and explained that Ann was married and this is her only night out to be herself. A lot of the women here are in the same boat. "They go out there and become better acquainted."

While Caroline was a teacher at a High School on the Eastern side of the city.

Erica smiled and raised her eyebrows as she took another sip followed by a larger one.

"Oh and I thought it was just my Annie who didn't want to get noticed." She told me.

"No sweetheart, it is the way of the world at the moment. There are a lot of women who are still hiding in the closet."

Close to midnight, Swifty came around and asked us nicely to stop scaring her passing traffic off. We all laughed along with her. Told her collectively "No Way."

For some reason was a cue for Ben to jump into the Angels Australian classic, 'Am I ever going to see your face again' to which our whole group got up and sang the unofficial chorus "No way get fucked, fuck off." Ashley shook her head and told us we were all barred until tomorrow. And then joined in with us to sing the last chorus. "Am I ever going to see your face again, No way, get fucked, fuck off."

At which point we got our official name. At the end of the song, she stood there, hands-on hips, and told us were a group of owls.

We all roared with laughter and asked collectively, "What are owls?"

She smiled at us and with a deadpan face told us. "A bird of prey, who only come out at night and preys on vulnerable other species." And laughed.

By this time our little group had added a few more women to our table. Swifty came over to me and asked. "How do you fucking do it?"

"Do what." I replied.

"Get these women together and then turn a perfectly respectable establishment into an old fashion dyke haven?" She said it like she was enjoying the bad reputation we were enjoying.

"It's a gift," I told her, we smiled and agreed, that it was indeed a gift.

And that was the name we were given and remained with us, our little corner became known as the OWLS nest. It was only later that one of the girls in a more academic moment said it could also stand for what we were.

Chapter 3 -- The Artist known as Mia.

The following week got a phone call from Emily.

"Hi Aunt Kathy, I've got those wall art frames finished the ones I told you about, can I come and show you?" she asked.

"What wall art" I enquired.

"You know those old plans you found." She continued, "You told me it was ok to turn them into wall art."

"Oh yes, the original drawings, OK yes now I remember. Yes come on down and show me." I told her.

"Can I bring a friend with me?" she wanted to know.

"Of course you can, come around home, we'll have lunch together. Who is your friend?" I wanted to know.

"It's Mia, you haven't met her yet but it is important to me that you meet her."

"Is it now?" I asked.

"Yes it is, you will like her."

I heard other voices in the background and a lot of giggling. There is something about a young woman giggling that shoots to my core, like a burning arrow. I shifted in my office chair.

"When do you want to come down to the old place?"

"Is tomorrow too soon?" She asked of me.

"Not at all, looking forward to it. Say hi to your mum for me."

"OK, I will. Love you." And she hung up.

I thought to myself, that this was the first time she wanted to introduce a friend to me, although she had often turned up with friends in the past. Something was afoot. I had known for some time that my grandniece wasn't into boys and I also knew her family thought that one lesbian in the family was enough. Not a fight I would ever walk away from but families are a weird beast.

So I rang my brother, Emily's Grandfather, and went through my normal update of the family business. Told him that we might have to have the Divitt street property empty for a while. He was nonplussed about it, and when I told him why, he was even pleased.

I did a bit of fishing while I had him on the phone. "How's everything your end?"

"How's Miriam." I asked.

"Good as far as I know, why?"

"No reason, just asking."

"Come on Kathleen, you don't idly ask after Miriam, so what's on your mind?"

I must admit, he could always read me like a book.

"I'm having lunch with Emily tomorrow, she's bringing a friend with her, to meet me." I told him "She has had the original blue prints to Divitt Street framed as some wall art or something. Fancy one for your study?"

"Has she now, and who is her friend this week?" He said sarcastically.

"Mia." I told him. "Why be so hard on her, honestly, you can be cruel sometimes."

There was silence for a short while.

"I can't say I have met her but I can see now I know why you asked after Miriam."

"Well, what have you heard and how is it all being handled, not that it is any of our business is it?" I told him

"Actually and you will be totally surprised by this, nobody has said anything to me. Not even Emily."

"Well maybe it isn't a big deal?" I reminded him.

"I would hope that she would introduce her friend to her family first."

"What am I then, chopped liver? Maybe she is seeing how her favourite great Aunt feels about it before throwing her friend to the wolves." I said with a laugh in my voice.

"You're her only bloody great Aunt." He replied laughing.

"But in answer to your original question yes. Yes I want one for our place. There should be plenty to go round, from memory there was something like 20 drawings to start with. And what I only get one? He continued "On the other matter, nobody has said tickity boo to me."

We said our good byes and went through our customary we should catch up. Which we never seemed to do.

I hung up the phone and was pleasantly surprised that there wasn't a big commotion about Emily's friend. Maybe the family has grown up a little bit.

Emily turned up as arranged and rang the front door bell. I opened the door, and smiled at her, she hugged me as she had always done and gave me a little kiss on my cheek. She felt good in my arms.

She was small in stature, just reaching 5ft, petite, pale, slim, the cutest smile and sparkling eyes. She was pixie like, with her short cropped hair, fashionably, tinted blue on the tips. Her skin tight yoga pants hid nothing, and her sports top was just enough to make her decent. Her small child like breasts, showed off her nipples as pointed diamonds. Small but rock hard.

But she was also feisty, her mother said she got that from her late father's side or my side of the family. She would speak her mind, on any subject, showing enough respect to the person that she was debating, that she thought they might deserve.

Any person who tamed her was going to be extra special.

As we entered the front door, Emily, pulled in her friend by the hand, "Aunt Kathy, this is my special friend Mia Di Lombardo." The way that Emily looked at her I knew she was head over hills in love.

"Hello Mia, good to meet you." I told her.

"And you Mrs Ambrose." She replied.

I smiled, "It isn't Mrs and you too can call me Aunt Kathy.

Mia was taller than our Em, by some 6 inches, a little fuller, but not overly large, her T Shirt showed her very masculine but trimmed body, which seem to ripple against her tight T shirt. One would say an athlete's body at first glance. Dark complexion, black hair, very Mediterranean, a very handsome young lady. Her hand shake was firm, and she looked you straight in the eye. I was pretty sure, it wasn't her I heard giggling in the back ground on the phone yesterday.

I ushered them into the family room, keeping the more formal front room and dining room for more auspicious occasions.

"So where are these pictures you told me about?" I asked.

"Wall Art Aunt Kathy." I was told in reply.

"OK Wall Art." I replied slowly.

"In the car." She told me and went to rise, when Mia put a hand on her leg, and told her to stay, and that she would go and bring it in.

I looked on and was somewhat surprised by how compliant Emily was.

Mia left the room and immediately, Emily grabbed my hand with her two and was gushing with delight. "This is real Aunty, I mean really real." Emily explained to me.

I smiled at her then said "Really real as opposed to a teenagers crush, maybe?" I felt guilty as soon as I said it.

She looked sad momentarily. "This is no schoolgirl crush, honestly." She sternly stated.

"Fine, I believe you, then let it play out, don't rush it."

"I will need your help with mum and grandpa though." She asked changing her tone.

Mia walked back into the room carrying a huge three foot by two foot glassed framed blue print. If it was heavy she didn't let on. Her biceps bulged and the tattoos on her arms highlighted her masculine look.

It was magnificently presented I thought to myself.

The blue prints were great too. The dark red wooded frame, setting off the dark blue drawing, complete with faded water marks.

"Oh wow" I exclaimed. As I went to help her and Emily sat where she was. "Let's put it up on the mantel piece shall we, I'll just move these old things out of the way."

I looked at Emily who was still sat where she was told to be. "Emily, come grab these things for me please darling."

She looked at Mia who I saw just smiled and it was only then that she came to grab the nic nacs off of the mantel piece for me.

It was truly a work of art.

The three of us stood back. I have seen some of the world's greatest pieces of artworks. While this wasn't to be compared to any of those, it still had the same impact on me as they had.

It took my breath away.

"Who did this, who took a piece of old paper and turned it into this? I asked them both.

I turned to look at them, Mia had her arm around Emily, hugging her. "Mia did Aunty, this was all Mia's work."

I think I saw Mia blush, although I can't be certain.

"How many do we have?" I asked them.

"This is the only one I have completed so far Aunt Kathleen." Mia told me with a smile on her face.

"I am so glad you liked it, I thought you might not, for some reason."

"Stay here you two." I told them and hurried out of the room. I went up to my office and got a permanent marker. When I walked in they were just breaking from a kiss, "Save that till later you two." I told them, then handed the marker to Mia, "on the back of this one I want you to write the following for me."

"Presented to Kathleen Ambrose by the artist Mia Di Lombardo and date it today. Then sign it." The business woman in me came to light.

"On the next two write the same thing except use Terence Ambrose and mark them 1 and 2 please." I instructed her.

"On all the others write Presented to the Ambrose family, date it when you finish each one and autograph it. How many are there by the way?"

Emily spoke up, "Aunty, they cost us about seven hundred dollars each to do." I noted the use of the word 'us' but let it fly. "And there are twenty three in total." She explained.

"Mia DI Lombardo, I am commissioning you to produce these for the Ambrose family, at a $1000 dollars each, is it a deal?" I asked 'them'.

Mia smiled and held onto Emily's hand, as she brought it to her lips and kissed her hand.

"Yes Aunt Kathleen, we have a deal."

We shook hands, I hugged her and kissed her cheeks. How very Italian of me I thought.

Emily jumped into my arms. "Thank you a thousand times over, thank you." And she kissed me over and over again.

"OK lunch it is, down to the British Hotel on the river front I told them. Oh before we go, a word of advice to you both." I said and then looking at Emily. "Don't ever tell anyone the price it costs you when you are selling something to them, especially family, we will expect to get it on the cheap." I smiled at her and cupped her cheek in my hand, then looking over her head at Mia. "You are truly lucky Mia."

With that we headed off. On walking into the British Hotel, they were not all that busy, and the manager Anthony came up to me, shaking my hand, smiling, "Hi Kathleen, lunch for 3 or just some wine?" He asked.

"Lunch, please Anthony, but we are celebrating as well." I informed him.

"Oh good, what's the occasion then?" He asked.

"A successful business deal." I told him.

He escorted us to the riverfront room, where my table by the large window was permanently set for four people, complete with a 'Reserved' sign.

Kim our waitress removed one setting, and as we sat down, then asked generally, "Are we all drinking wine over lunch?"

"Yes I think so." I replied. I looked at Mia who nodded and told me, "My parents are Italian so I've been drinking wine with meals since I was 10."

Kim then turned to Emily, and asked of me "Is the young girl also drinking wine or maybe she might enjoy one of our mocktails?"

I smiled and bit my tongue, it wasn't the first time that 19 year old Emily had been mistaken for someone a lot younger. "Emily is my Grand Niece, and she is of legal age to drink, thank you Kim."

She smiled awkwardly at me, nodded and went on her way.

"Trust me to order ladies? I take it we have no dietary needs I need to take into account?" I asked and then without waiting for an answer signaled for Anthony to take our order.

"Veal Saltimbocca for 3 please Anthony, and a bottle of the Bin 28 please." I instructed him. He nodded, without writing anything down and disappeared.

Emily excused herself to the ladies room and left Mia in my very capable hands. I waited until Emily was out of earshot, then turned to Mia.

"So how long have you two been a couple?" I asked directly.

"About 3 months officially, but we've known each other when we were at high school. I was finishing the year Em was starting, but we ran into each other at different times." She told me.

"Who else knows about you two, apart from your friends? Your family for instance?"

"Oh yes, they love Emily, we have our own room at home. Mum and Dad have known since I was an early teenager. I told them, they said fine, and it didn't bother anyone. Even my bis nonna says it is good that I have found love and I'm happy."

"Bis Nonna?" I enquired.

"Grand Mother." I was told.

"Getting Bis Nonna's approval was far more important than even my parents, believe me, what she says goes." She said with a serious look on her face.

"Well Emily's family is a little different, but you have my support." I told her.

"I know they are Aunt Kathleen, I have never been in the closet, and have no intention of going into one now, Em knows that and she is scared. Which is why she has brought me here to meet you."

"Do YOU think,... that she needs my approval?" I smiled as I asked her.

"I think she is scared of what you think and how her mother may react." Came the reply.

"Her mother and Grandfather I can talk to when I need to. They won't be an issue for her. Where do they think Emily sleeps when she doesn't come home at night?" I asked her. "They may seem a bit naïve, but they aren't, and if they haven't said anything to either of you then it won't be a problem," I informed her.

She shrugged "I've never asked about their discussions and Em has never offered any."

"I only want what is best for her, so I will say this to you only once. You hurt her in any way and you will have to deal with me. Is that understood?"

Mia smiled at me, "Then we are on the same page, because I want to look after her for the rest of our lives." She said as she looked directly into my eyes.

The fact she did that, and sounded so sincere, meant a lot to me.

I held her gaze and nodded "Indeed we are on the same page, Mia."

When Emily returned, she caught us at that intense moment with each other, and looked at us both. "What has happened?" She asked and sounded a little worried.

We both burst out laughing, "Nothing darling," I continued. "But if I was your mother I think Mia just asked for your hand in marriage." We continued laughing.

"What I'm gone for 2 minutes and you have us married already. Don't I have a say in it?"

I looked at Mia, cocked my head to one side and raised my eyebrows as if to say. Will you tell her or will I?

All three of us were smiling as our lunch and wine arrived. After we had finished eating and the bottle of Penfolds Bin 28 Shiraz had long been emptied, I filled them in on some of my business dealings.

Emily asked after Divitt Street, I told her what had transpired over the past week or so. When Mia asked about it being used as a private members club. I laughed, "Like the Adelaide Club, you mean."

She replied, "I'm not too sure what the Adelaide Club is, but I was thinking about an exclusive woman's only place, members only and only women are members a place where like-minded women can meet and feel safe."

"Surely there are plenty of places around now, in our enlighten society, where gay women can meet safely?" I asked them both.

"Not really Aunty Kathy, some of our friends still get assaulted at night. Especially in the city." Emily told me.

Then Emily looked at Mia, then back at me before saying, "I've researched a place in London called 5 Hertford Street, it isn't exclusive to Lesbians but it is exclusive none the less." She told me.

I sat back in my chair and looked at them both.

"It already sounds expensive Emily." As I cleared my throat and waved across to Anthony, who nodded and brought another bottle of wine. "I'll organise a safe drive home for you, or we can cab it back to my place and you can stay the night in the guest room. I'm thinking this could be a 3 bottle afternoon."

"Your place." they both said in unison. I chuckled to myself. They were good together these two.

"So tell me about your ideas and how I can sell it to both my bankers and your Grandfather."

Emily lent forward and put her elbows on the table, I looked at her and then her elbows, and she withdrew them and clasped her hands on the table instead.

"Aunt Kathy, I haven't done all the numbers yet, but I'm sure we could make it work."

"Emily darling the numbers will tell us if it will work or not. So sell me on the idea." I asked of them.

Mia started talking first. "We took the liberty of checking out some of the rules and regulations of private clubs here in South Australia. It will need a Liquor License and a restaurant license. Also if we have rooms for guests to stay overnight a license as an hotelier. But if you get one of those, the other two are 'thrown' in so to speak." She told me.

Emily chipped in, "With the three floors to use, you could have a small dining area, on the top floor, and by taking down the back wall, half of that area could be an outdoor garden type place for more intimate discussions."

"Where do you get THREE floors from, there are only two." I reminded them.

"Kathy the cellar," Mia exclaimed. "It is as large as any of the other areas, and these drawings tell us exactly what we could do with them, then there are the secret tunnels."

I burst into laughter, "There are no secret tunnels." I told them, "Trust me, I looked ages ago when I was your age, even younger. I so wanted them to be there. Your grandfather and I spent countless hours down there looking."

"But I do agree with you it is a large area. It has been underused as a space, with the right décor, could become quite a novel little music space or something." I suggested. "Maybe a private nightclub," I thought out loud.

Their eyes lit up and they asked me. "So you'll do it?"

"Not so fast, ladies." As I poured us all another round of good red wine. "This is what I WILL do, I will get some professional advice on the matter. This is a business venture, it has to turn around at least 50k profit per year."

I looked at them as they held each other's hands. And it was as if they were telepathic, their eyes seem to be speaking to each other. My mind was racing, what with the discussion, I had with Erica just a few days earlier, and now with these two. If I didn't know better I would say they were in collusion with each other.

I finished my wine, and ordered coffee, while the girls asked for Chai tea. I smiled inwardly, remembering all the concoctions I drank in my hippy days as a youth.

"You two will have to do something for me before I do anything. The faster you do it the quicker I will do what I have to do." I instructed.

"You need to put together a business proposal for me," I told them, "Layout all the costs that you are aware of. Then where the family can make a profit, and what my bottom line will be." Knowing full well that a decent business proposal would take at least two weeks, and that's if it is prepared by a professional with trained staff. I wasn't expecting anything flamboyant.

"Remember what I can get just by renting this out as office space. Where I don't have to go and borrow any money and then get builders in, who are notoriously unreliable." I reminded them once again.

"BUT but but", said Emily, before Mia, put a hand on her arm and she fell quiet. Mia turned to me and calmly stated that she had some ideas as far as developing the building, and realised that some costs would be involved and that she, or they, she corrected herself, will make generous allowances for any building work. I looked at her and thought to myself, is she a smart cookie or full of false bravado.

I took my phone out of my handbag and told them that we should book an appointment to meet at number 7 Divitt Street, in two weeks at 10 am. They should bring their proposal and be prepared to do a presentation. I immediately sent the appointment off to Erica and Terence at the same time. With just the heading of Business Proposal 7 Divitt Street.

We toasted our appointment with our coffee and Chai tea. We chatted all afternoon, with me asking questions about Mia mostly.

I found out that she was 5 years older than Emily, had been at the University of SA and has a Postgrad degree as a Master of Project Management, coupled with an Arts degree and was going to go on and do an architect degree, but got bored with it. I listened intently, not only was she smart, good looking and extremely confident, but she was also driven and was in fact helping Emily get into her chosen courses. A win, win, win, I'd say.

I nodded approvingly. I watched as they interacted with each other, and watched Emily being subservient at times but also making her point as she needed to.

I told them that I thought their business proposal should be very interesting.

The time soon came when the staff were getting ready for their evening guests, I asked Anthony for the bill, settled it and he called us a taxi, to take us home. The girls settled into the guest room while I finished off some work in my office.