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2016-10-04
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2017-04-12
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Love & Corrections

Chapter 3

Notes:

Good whatever-the-time-of-the-day-it-is! <3

Do note that the order of events in the show are not the same in this book, just reminding you to avoid confusion! x

Apologies for the late update, school started up recently (which sucks) and I've got exams soon!

Chapter Text

 

Joan pulled up in the driveway of their house, waiting for Vera to be ready. She had told her to be ready by 12:15pm, which had made Vera protest since her shift started at 1:30pm. Vera stopped protesting once Joan had told her that they were going to a cafe for lunch.

It was 12:13pm when their front door opened, revealing a fully dressed Vera. Joan grinned, they weren't going to be late. She was also grinning just at the sight of the woman. Vera walked over as fast as she could in heels and opened the passenger door. She smiled at Joan.

"I couldn't find my badge, I thought I was going to be late," she said is a rushed tone of voice, blushing a little. Joan shook her head, offering a reassuring smile.

"I left plenty of time, we're not going to be late, Vera," Joan spoke, watching Vera get into the car gracefully. As soon as the car door shut and Vera had put her seatbelt on, Joan pulled out of their driveway, driving off to a cafe that was fairly quiet on the outskirts of the town. Joan had been there a few times.

The pair didn't talk, they let the radio do all the talking. The radio hosts were all arguing over who the prime minister of Australia should be. Frankly, neither of them particularly cared.

Vera's mind was on how work will go today. Will she bump into Fletch? What would she say if she did? Would she ignore him? Yell at him? Speak professionally. She wouldn't let his issues and mistakes ruin her enjoyment for her job. She loved working at Wentworth -- most days.

Joan's mind was on something completely different. She was more worried on whether Vera would appreciate her getting off work early to take her to this cafe. The cafe was fairly old fashioned, but it seemed like something Vera would like. There were pictures on the walls from the 60s, when the cafe first opened. The pictures were of the family that originally owned the place. Joan could imagine Vera calling the place 'cute.'

Joan parked the car in one of the spaces in the small carpark, beside the cafe. It wasn't that popular however, there were only two spaces left. Joan shut off the engine and pulled the keys out. They had just over an hour before Vera's shift started. Plenty of time.

They got out of the car and walked side by side, their hands brushing against each other's. Joan wasn't a fan of PDA, not because they were both females, she simply didn't like the attention of strangers.

Vera's eyes lit up just by looking at the front of the small place.

"This place is so cute. It's beautiful, Joan," Vera spoke, looking at the flowers that littered the front. Joan smirked when Vera said the word, 'cute.'

"It is," Joan whispered, looking at Vera's reaction, "come on, we don't have too much time and I'm starving."

Vera grinned and followed Joan inside eagerly. The pair decided on a booth near the window on the left of the cafe. A couple and an elderly woman sat on another table across from them. Vera listened in on their loud conversation. She was too nosy for her own good.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Robert. Liza has constantly been on about you, it's starting to get a bit annoying," the woman joked. Vera figured it was Liza's mother and that she was meeting Liza's boyfriend. It made Vera think about her own mother. A stubborn woman. Constantly verballing abusing her daughter. Belittling her. Making her feel as if everything she did was wrong. What would Joan think of her? What would her mother think of Joan?

Rita Bennett, Vera's mother, was a conservative woman. Attended church on Sundays. She drilled a lot of her religious beliefs into her daughter, including that homosexuals were bad people who'd go to hell when they die.

The thought made Vera visibly cringe.

"Vera..." Joan drawled, looking at Vera who was deep in thought, staring at the people beside them.

"Would you want to ever meet my mother?" Vera asked randomly, making Joan's eyes widen in surprise. She glanced at the people beside her -- the people she was staring blankly at. A couple and an older woman. A mother. She almost rolled her eyes.

"Would your mother want to meet me?" Joan questioned, not particularly giving an answer. Vera thought, 'no.' She didn't know how to reply to that. She wanted Joan to meet her. Just so she wouldn't feel as if she was hiding something from her. She bit her lip, unsure of a reply.

"She thinks I moved in with a friend," Vera said, also not replying to Joan's question, "I don't want her to think that. She won't be around for much longer... I can't let her go thinking that I'd never find someone. That's what she would want. I won't let her have that pleasure."

Her answer stunned both women. Joan was surprised by Vera's disliking for her mum whereas, Vera was surprised that she had the guts to say that out loud.

"If you really want me to, I will. How about tonight, after your shift? I'll pick you up, take you home to get ready and then we'll go," Joan suggested, smiling softly at the younger woman. Although Joan acted as if she was fine with the idea, she was just as nervous as Vera. She had never done this before. She would not be in control tonight. She had a feeling that neither would Vera's mother be.

"I would really appreciate that... Don't choose anything too fancy to wear.. Uhh, can you iron something for me too?" Vera asked, biting her lip anxiously.

"Of course, Vera.. Don't worry," Joan reached across the table and squeezed Vera's hand that was laying on the table. Vera gave a hopeful smile.

She could only hope.

 

›››‹‹‹

 

"Vera!" Mr Fletcher's voice yelled from behind her as she walked to the Rec room. She gulped. Vera had purposely avoided him all day and made sure his posts were on the other side of the prison. She forgot that he finished at the same time. Vera slowed but did not stop. Fletch caught up with her and walked beside her.

"I'm sorry about.. uh.. yesterday. I had a really rough morning," Matt explained to Vera hopefully. He knew that she gave second chances but, he also knew that he may of blew everything.

"I had a rough day," Vera replied, putting emphasis on day. Her hands balled into fists beside her. She wanted him to go away and leave her alone. 

"I'm sorry... I would never do that to you. You know that, surely! I wasn't myself," he carried on. They reached the Rec room and Vera turned to him.

"Do I?" she questioned, keeping an emotionless face -- something Joan was a master of. She turned away from his stunned face and scanned her card to open the Rec room. Fletcher followed her inside, going to his locker which was practically right next to her own.

"How about dinner tonight? I'll explain everything to you," Fletcher started again. He really did want to fix things with Vera. She meant a lot to him.

"I have plans," she replied shortly. Matt frowned at her, watching as she pulled her bag out of her locker. She closed her locker and looked at him blankly.

"Tomorrow?"

"Has it occurred to you that I want to keep our relationship strictly professional?" Vera spoke with a clear voice. She wasn't going to let him think that they would ever pursue anything more than a professional relationship. She watched him furrow his eyebrows. 

"Well, you didn't bef-," Vera cut him off, understanding what he may of been getting at.

"I am in a relationship, Matt," Vera said, glancing at the clock. She wasn't late.

"What? With Adam?" Mr Fletcher chuckled, smirking slightly. He had hoped she'd know he was joking but her face said the complete opposite. She was actually serious.

"I'm sorry, Vera," he apologised again. She brushed past him, leaving the prison. She signed out and left the building. She glanced around the carpark, looking for a specific car. 

She wasn't even here. A smile spread across Vera's face. Joan Ferguson was late. Actually late. Vera noted to make sure to tease her about this for days on end.

A car pulled into the car park, in front of Vera. She rolled her eyes and opened the passenger door.

"Tick tock," Vera laughed, getting into the car. Joan grumbled in annoyance.

"Couldn't decide what to wear? Or what I should wear?" Vera teased, making Joan's cheeks flush a shade of pink. Vera laughed at her before grinning at the woman.

"You're correc-T about both..." she murmured quietly, clearly embarrassed. Vera giggled, making Joan glare at her. Joan's hair was down, flowing onto and just past her shoulders. She didn't look as some would say, harsh or intimidating. She looked like Joan. Not the Governor of Wentworth. The gorgeous and caring Joan -- that Vera loved and adored.

Joan pulled out of the carpark. They had to go home first and then after Vera had gotten ready, they'd go to Vera's Mum's house. Vera had already given Joan directions and she assumed that she had already studied them.

"How was your shift, dear?" Joan questioned, not removing her eyes off of the road. Vera pursed her lips. How was her shift? 

"Uneventful," Vera answered. It was the typical answer she gave when she speaking to Joan at work when they were nothing but colleagues. The Deputy and the Governor.

"Fletch spoke to me after my shift. He ended at the same time," she added quickly. Joan raised an eyebrow. She couldn't believe that he had the nerve to talk to Vera after what he had done to her well, what Joan assumed he had tried to do to her.

"And what did Mr Fletcher say to you?" Joan asked, glancing at Vera for a second. Vera bit her lip.

"He apologised. Asked me to go to dinner with him tonight. I told him that I had plans and that I only wanted a professional relationship with him. I had to tell him I was in a relationship... Then he said something else but that's when I left," Vera mumbled the last part. She was not going to bring up Adam. Not to Joan. She'd sound like a fool.

Alarm bells went off in Joan's head. 

"Did you mention me?" Joan questioned in a rushed tone. She almost spat the words out.

"Of course not! I'm not stupid!" Vera exclaimed, shaking her head.

"I know you're not, Vera. I'm sorry... Uh.. What time are we supposed to be there by?" Joan asked. She already knew but she wanted to change the topic. 7:00pm.

"Seven o'clock but, she hates when people don't arrive slightly early so, about ten to seven," Vera answered as they pulled into their driveway. Joan turned the engine off, silencing the car. Both women got out of the car and made their way to the front door. Joan unlocked the door, pushing it open to allow Vera inside first. The smaller woman flashed a grateful smile and entered first. Joan followed closely behind.

Vera's eyes glanced to the silver clock hanging on the wall. She had an hour and a half before they had to be there.

"I laid out the clothes on our bed for you," Joan spoke from behind Vera. Vera could hear her taking her shoes off beside the front door. 

"Thank you... I really appreciate you doing this," Vera turned around to smile warmly at the other woman who was using her foot to perfectly align her shoes beside the front door. 

Joan stood to her full height and flashed a short smile, it didn't reach her eyes. Vera knew she was nervous, maybe even scared of her mother. The great Joan Ferguson, scared of an elderly woman. 

"I'll have a quick shower and get changed. I won't be long," Vera said. She around and darted for the stairs to get ready for tonight.

Joan sighed the second she was alone. She could hear the shower turn on. She didn't know what to do with herself for the next hour or so. She was nervous and time felt slow. She strode over to a specific draw in the kitchen and pulled it open. She grabbed the cleaning gloves inside and put them. 

Something to ease her mind and pass time.

Joan reached for an antibacterial spray and a black cleaning cloth. She decided to start with the kitchen counter. Three sprays. Wipe. 

Joan would not be in control tonight. She expected Vera wasn't as nervous as she was considering she at least knew her mother and knew the way she went about with things. Joan didn't. Rita Bennett could be the same as Vera. Naïve. Accepting. Kind... or she may not be. She could be like Joan. Controlling. Manipulative... and she would have the upperhand by simply being at her own house. Joan would be on her grounds.

She moved onto the sink. Three sprays. Wipe.

How would tonight end? Joan didn't see herself crying or yelling. She would stay composed... or at least appear composed. Vera surely had a lot of anger inside of her from her childhood going by what she had said earlier. Joan wanted to know more about Vera and Rita's relationship. Joan knew better than to push for information. Vera never asked Joan about her family, she respected that she may not want to talk about it. Joan was grateful for that. Joan rarely saw her father anymore since being with Vera, except when she goes to fencing. He had otherwise disappeared from all aspects of her life. She obviously knew he had died a long while ago, but she still appreciated his advice and guidance despite him not physically being there.

Small arms gripped onto the back of Joan's elbows tight enough to stop her from moving. Joan placed the cloth and spray beside the sink before pulling her cleaning gloves off and placing them neatly beside the sink she was cleaning for quite some time. She spun around, looking down at Vera who held a look of concern.

"Go sit down," she said, not leaving room for argument. Joan nodded slightly and went to the lounge room to sit down, she waited for Vera to join her.

Meanwhile, Vera put the cleaning items away, where they belong. Joan's obsession with keeping everything clean did bug her, but she knew she was doing it out of nerves. Somehow, it must calm her. Vera wished she had something that would calm her down easily.

Vera grabbed a wine glass out and filled it with red wine. She drank it all as quickly as she poured it. She was being stupid for doing this.

She poured another one and put the wine away.

 

›››‹‹‹


The couch dipped beside Joan. Joan turned her head to face the younger woman. She looked beautiful in the clothes she had chosen, exactly how she pictured her in them. She had a glass of wine in her hand making Joan raise an eyebrow.

"I should've asked if you wanted some," Vera spoke, frowning at her glass.

"I'm fine, Vera," Joan assured her.

"I mean, this is my second glass," she admitted, biting her lip. This made Joan frown. Why would she want to be tipsy?

"Are you sure that is a good idea?" Joan questioned, glancing at the clock briefly. She turned back around when she heard Vera place the glass on the coffee table. Joan wanted to be sober. She wanted to be able to register everything going on. Plus, she was driving.

"This wasn't a good idea..." Vera mumbled, rubbing her face annoyedly, "why am I so stupid?"

Joan turned fully around, crossing her legs on the couch like a child would in primary school.

"You're far from stupid, Vera. If you don't feel comfortable doing this, we can stay here." Joan was secretly hoping that Vera would give in.

Vera shook her head, "no, I can't just cancel on her. I need to do this. I'm okay.. Are you?" Vera turned her head on an angle. She already knew the answer. Joan would lie about being nervous. Joan bit the inside of her lip.

"I am. You don't need to worry about me. We should probably get going, hmm?" Joan answered, immediately changing the subject. Vera narrowed her eyes before nodding and standing up. She offered a hand to Joan who just chuckled at her.

"What?" Vera questioned, wondering why Joan was laughing at her.

"You and I both know you can't pull me up off of the couch," Joan raised an eyebrow, smirking at Vera. Vera scoffed in annoyance. Joan ignored Vera's offer and stood up herself, smiling smugly at the shorter woman.

"At least I wasn't late today," Vera replied, now smiling smugly. Joan glared at her.

"That was because I couldn't choose an outfit out for you, which by the way, you look great in. It was worth being late," Joan answered, turning around and walking to the front door. She rarely playfully complimented Vera. It was a nice change.

Vera blushed profusely at the rarity. She followed closely behind the Russian woman who was putting her shoes back on, adding an extra inch to her height.

'I need stilettos,' Vera thought, looking up at Joan.

"Are you ready to go?" Joan questioned, grabbing her car keys from the table in the doorway. Vera nodded.

Joan opened the front door for Vera, allowing her to pass and get in the car. Joan locked the door behind her and walked over to the car that Vera was already seated in. Joan got into the driver's side and fastened her seatbelt. She turned the key, bringing the car to life. The radio softly played something off of the Australian top charts. Vera hummed along to it quietly, glancing out the window as Joan drove to her mother's house. They didn't speak. There was nothing that needed to be said.

Luckily, Rita didn't live far away from them. It was only a few streets away. Vera watched all of the houses fly past as Joan drove the car. One house in particular caught her eye as they drew to a stop at a stop sign. It was a large white house. Children were playing chasey at the front while their parents watched on from the porch. Vera smiled warmly at the sight. The car pulled onto Rita's street -- Vera's old street. They were on time.

House number 73.

Joan pulled into the driveway of the house and cut the engine, silencing the radio. Vera noticed Joan's slightly shaky hand, resting on her left thigh. Vera reached over and grasped it, giving it a light squeeze. Joan breathed out slowly.

7:50pm.

The pair opened the car doors and got out, shutting the doors behind them. Joan locked the car, making the car lights flicker on and off. Vera noticed Joan straighten up immediately. Almost as if all the nerves she had were left in the car. She could change so quickly.

They both walked to the front door. Vera rang the doorbell as soon as it was in reach. She didn't want to awkwardly wait any longer. They heard footsteps rush towards the front door and then the door unlocked. A small frail woman appeared from behind the door. She looked them both up and down and smiled. 

"Hi Mum," Vera greeted, giving the best smile that she could.

"Vera," Rita nodded, her eyes drifted over to the much taller woman beside her daughter. Her black hair drifted just past her shoulders. She wore a simple cream blouse and black dress pants. Her choice of clothing pleased Rita and Vera could sense that. However, Joan felt as if Rita could tell everything by just looking at her.

"I'm Rita and you are the lady who my daughter moved in with?" Rita questioned, glancing at Vera briefly. She seemed to of actually chosen something nicer than usual, Rita thought.

"Yes. Joan Ferguson," Joan held her hand out. She had to play her cards correctly. Rita shook Joan's hand much to Vera's surprise on both parties. Joan usually avoided giving anyone handshakes and well, her Mum wasn't a friendly person. Vera's Mum pulled the door open fully, allowing them in.

"Welcome, come in, come in."