Lisa woke before her alarm sounded, feeling refreshed and ready to start the day. She needed to be at Rick’s Deli for the lunch shift. Despite her desire for a caffeine pick-me-up to get her going, Lisa knew she had two very important calls to make first, so venturing downstairs for coffee would have to wait. It would be too easy for her to get distracted. Picking up the phone, she hit Kelly’s speed dial.
“Hi, Mom. What’s up?”
“Hi, sweetheart. Do you have a few minutes to talk?”
“Yeah, I don’t have to leave for my first class for at least a half hour.”
“That’s great. Did your father talk to you yesterday?”
“No, why?”
“It’s done, or rather, nearly done.” Lisa waited while the line remained quiet. “Kelly, are you there?”
“Yes, Mom, I’m here.” Kelly sighed audibly. “So you’re divorced from Dad?”
“Just about. I got a voice mail informing me our hearing will be on Friday morning. That’s when the judge will hand down the final divorce decree. It’s just a formality. Your father and I agreed on everything, finally.”
“Did Jessie’s testimony help?”
“Yes, it did.”
“Are you going to talk to her again?”
Lisa pinched the bridge of her nose. “Kel, I know you always liked Jessie, and I think you were angrier at her than I was after everything went to hell. You’re really quite protective where my interests are concerned.”
“I know. I just want to know if you’re going to forgive her.”
“Probably. I’m not filled with anger anymore when I hear her name, and I’m grateful for what she did, but it’ll be a long time before we can approach a true friendship again. Robert hasn’t been honest with me for years. Now I know he tried to convince Jessie I was okay with him fooling around on the side as long as it wasn’t out in the open for all the world to see.”
Kelly’s voice had a bitter, hard edge. “I can’t believe Dad did that…well, I can believe it, but it gets me even angrier to think about all that. I’m glad you seem to be able to deal with Jessie again, although I hate that you didn’t see any of this coming. Besides, even if Jessie was told you’d already given Dad the go-ahead to screw around, she should’ve double-checked with you. I don’t care how desperate she was, a real friend doesn’t fuck her friend’s man.”
“Kel, are you okay?” Lisa detected a note of anger beyond anything she’d heard from Kelly in the past.
“Remember my friend Amy from English Lit class?”
“Sure, you two are getting to be very close, if I remember correctly.”
“That’s right. Well, last weekend, while she was out of town visiting her family, her asshole boyfriend made a pass at me.”
“Oh, honey, how awful. What did you do?”
“I smacked him across the face and told him he’d better respect his girlfriend, my friend. I also told him if I ever got wind he was fucking around behind her back, she’d know it in a heartbeat.”
Lisa smiled. “I’m proud of you.”
“Thanks, Mom. I guess I learned something from the mess Dad made. If women didn’t screw with married men, that shit wouldn’t happen. I am never going to be the ‘other woman.’”
Lisa winced at the memory of her own unintended transgression, even though she knew Kelly wasn’t aiming at her. “Please don’t put all the blame on your father. I should have sensed something wasn’t working years ago. I ignored my feelings, and look where it got us.”
“The rest is history.” The line was silent again, but this time it was a calm and comfortable silence.
“Mom.”
“Yes?”
“I love you.”
Lisa smiled, moisture dotting her lower lashes. She held the phone tighter, wishing it was her daughter she was hugging. “I love you too, sweetheart.” Lisa had one more important question to ask. “Kelly, where do you want to live this summer? You can stay with me, I’d love having you here. We can buy a comfortable sleeper sofa for the living room…or you can live with your father, or get a place of your own. The money’s in your college fund, so the decision is yours.”
“Thanks, Mom. It’s good to know I’m wanted.”
Lisa smiled. “You are most definitely wanted! Any thoughts?”
“I think I’d kind of like to stay near campus this summer. A couple of my closest friends will be staying. They’re developing a new independent newspaper and asked if I’d like to join them. I think I would.”
“That’s wonderful! I know you’ll be an asset to the project.” Lisa sighed, a little disappointed but proud that Kelly was becoming independent. “Just make sure you don’t become a stranger. I do want to see you.”
“Mom, you live in Greenwich Village in Manhattan, you’re friends with incredibly fascinating people, and the nightlife is a blast. I couldn’t possibly stay away. You’ll probably be sick of me by the end of the summer.”
Lisa laughed. “I look forward to every one of your visits.”
After they disconnected, Lisa swiped her hands across her eyes. Why she should cry from pride, she didn’t know. Her baby girl was going to be a mover and a shaker.
Now to call Chris. Their relationship had improved during the past few months and Lisa didn’t want the finality of the breakup to upset what was going so well. She knew Chris had matured and accepted the reality of his parents’ relationship, but a little piece of Lisa still wondered if Chris might miss the fantasy of his formerly “ideal” family life.
Chris picked up on the first ring. “Hi.”
“Hi Chris, how are you?”
“Fine, I guess.”
Lisa furrowed her brow. “What’s wrong? ‘Fine, I guess’ is far from an enthusiastic answer.”
Chris let out a long breath. “I just got off the phone with Dad.”
“I see. I hope you’re not angry I didn’t call you right away.”
“I’m not mad. In fact, I think I’m relieved.”
“So what’s the problem?” Lisa was beginning to feel unsettled and confused. She wondered if she should have gotten a cup of coffee before starting this conversation.
“It’s time.”
Chris’s cryptic answer didn’t resolve anything. “Time for what, honey?”
“It’s time for me to come out to Dad.”
Lisa’s fog began to lift. “When are you planning to tell him?”
“Well, you know I’m spending the weekend with Jeff again, right?”
“I’ve heard something to that effect.” Lisa smiled.
“On the way back to Yale, I’ll get off the train in Stamford. Dad’s going to meet me there for dinner. I plan to tell him then. He’s supposed to drive me the rest of the way to school afterwards, so once I make the big reveal, he’ll still get some private time to talk with me. If he wants to. If he doesn’t, he can just throw me back on the train.”
“It sounds like you’ve thought this out.” While Robert had never been prejudiced in the past, Lisa couldn’t help but worry about his reaction when it was his own son coming out of the closet. She remembered meeting Greg, Robert’s RA, during his senior year. He was pre-med and gay. Robert had respected him, listened to his advice, and never said an ill word or made a slur about him.
“Mom, there’s one more thing.”
“Yes?” Lisa bit her lip, waiting to hear the rest.
“I’m not sure, but I think Jeff might ask me to move in with him.”
“And how do you feel about that?”
“I feel great! I know we haven’t known each other very long, but there’s just something about him, about us, that works. Shit! I’m not saying this right. I know it sounds corny, but we’re right for each other.”
Lisa smiled, imagining Chris rolling his eyes as he tried to explain his feelings. “It’s okay. If you want to live with Jeff, and feel you’re ready to make a commitment, I’m all for it. If it doesn’t work out, or he doesn’t ask, you can stay with me as long as you’d like.”
“Thanks, Mom. It’s good to know I have a Plan B.”
“Will I see you at all during the weekend?”
“I’ll make sure to spend some time with you, but I have to go back on Sunday.”
Lisa snickered. “Don’t worry, honey, no pressure. Oh, and for the record…if I’m not in my apartment, don’t come looking for me.”
Chris started to laugh out loud. “I’ll keep that in mind, and Mom?”
“Uh-huh?”
“That’s way too much information.”
She could still hear him laughing as he hung up. And she was laughing too.
Feeling much better about the situation, Lisa showered and dressed, then went downstairs to finally get her morning coffee. Knowing Chris and Kelly both seemed to be coping well was a huge relief. She arrived in the sitting room to see Gigi filling up her own cup. “Good morning.”
“Well, stranger, how are you? I haven’t seen you in a couple of days. Have you been avoiding me?”
Lisa shook her head. Gigi’s tone was sarcastic with a touch of concern. It was getting easier to read between the lines. “I could say the same goes for you, but I won’t.”
“So what have you been up to?” Gigi took her coffee to the sofa.
After pouring her own cup of steaming brew and grabbing a muffin, Lisa joined Gigi, taking a seat at the opposite end of the sofa. “Let me see, what have I been up to?” Lisa wanted to enjoy sharing her special news with Gigi. They had waited so long. Lisa decided to have a little fun. “I got a new purse.” She held up the purse she had brought downstairs.
Gigi gave her a look that said cut the crap. “It’s lovely, go on.”
“I told Rick I would be cutting back on my hours at the deli for the next few weeks, after which I’d be leaving entirely. I contacted my executive assistant at Barnes Basics so he would have time to organize a senior staff meeting next week. I want to give everyone time to get used to the idea that I’ll be back on site regularly. It’s been a long time…too long.” Lisa took a sip of her coffee and a bite of her muffin.
Gigi slid across the sofa, moving much closer to Lisa. “And?”
Lisa put down the muffin and let the cup rest on the coffee table. Wiping her mouth gently with her napkin, she then looked directly into Gigi’s eyes. “And, my divorce becomes final Friday morning. I didn’t lose anything in the process.”
Gigi threw her arms around Lisa. Gigi pulled back slightly and gazed into Lisa’s eyes, then took possession of her lips. Lisa moaned into the kiss; tasting and holding Gigi was pure bliss.
After a few minutes of heaven, Lisa stopped. “Damn it, I want you right now, but I have to leave for work.”
“Shit!” Gigi said, breathing hard. Unable to resist, Lisa leaned in once more, hoping she was conveying the depth of her feelings with the goodbye kiss. At Gigi’s moan, Lisa gripped the back of her lover’s shirt, unwilling to break away.
“That kiss is so hot, it’s making even me sweat, and you two are women!”
Reluctantly releasing Gigi, Lisa spotted Jeff entering the sitting room, a grin a mile wide spread across his face.
After Lisa gave Jeff a quick news report, they toasted Lisa’s newfound freedom with coffee. As she prepared to leave for the deli, Lisa could see the promise of the future reflected in the sparkle of Gigi’s eyes.