I heard a few more audible gasps through the room, but like I could care anymore. It was the sweetest kiss I’d felt in my life, Lisette’s arms around my waist, and when I pulled away, she looked at me like I was the whole world.
There was stunned silence through the room. Normally this was the part the chorus started up, when O Holy Night would rise from around the room, but there was deathly silence. And why wouldn’t there be? A couple of lesbians had just disgraced the dance floor.
There were murmurs. I glanced out over the crowds. People avoided eye contact, but they were all staring.
The silence was punishing. All the damnation I could have ever needed. All the damnation I could have expected.
Until I heard the first voice of the chorus, and my heart jumped.
Rose stood up.
She broke the silence with that brilliant voice she had, the first few notes clear and confident, and I felt tears come into the corners of my eyes. I met her eyes, but she was focused on singing.
And god, was I proud of her.
The murmurs got louder. Finally, Aunt Gina flew to her feet, and shouted over Rose.
“What are you doing? This is an insult before—”
Her voice faded away when Henry joined the chorus, standing up on the opposite side as Rose, his powerful voice ringing through the room. Aunt Gina went red.
“You—” she strained, raising her voice higher, before Rhys joined the song, too, and then like someone had hit a switch, all the kids stood up, joining in.
Across the room, not far from Henry, I saw my dad stand up, straightening his back and joining in the chorus, and my heart tangled up on itself.
My dad. Was singing for me and Lisette.
It wasn’t just him. People all around the room stood up, too, the choir growing louder. Some people stood up yelling with Aunt Gina instead, but their voices drowned out under the harmony. My mom was the same, looking incredulously between me and my dad, but… my dad was singing for us.
Before I knew it, Lisette and I stood arms locked in the middle of the ballroom, as the entire room harmonized for us, and without thinking, I led Lisette on another dance. Lisette’s mom, too, I saw rise slowly, putting a hand to her chest and joining in the chorus, even though her face was scrunched up like she didn’t know what she was doing.
“Alice,” Lisette whispered as I led her. “I… I think they’re singing for us.”
I tried to say something back, but I was crying too hard, tears running down my cheeks and clogging up my voice, so I just nodded. The song rose to its peak, the one noel that all the voices rose on, and I finished the dance, falling into Lisette’s arms.
“You are the gutsiest person I’ve ever known,” she laughed weakly, through tears.
Maybe I was. Maybe I was.
I think I was just spiteful.
Chapter 24
Lisette
Gina’s voice was screechy as she stormed towards us, a half-dozen people in tow. “This tradition is a hundred years old and you’re going to upstage it to insult the Lord?”
The room had fallen into silence once the song had ended, and Gina took advantage of it. I stepped in front of Alice and said, “Miss Gina, I don’t think you understand. The lord brought Alice’s and my paths together for us to fall in love. And you shouldn’t question His wisdom.”
“Alice, Lisette—you know no one will stand for this—” Gina started, but a big, blocky hand came down on her shoulder.
“Hey, Gina,” Derek said, coming up behind her, and she jumped. “Let me talk to my daughter.”
Gina nodded, stepping back, her face still red. “Please—please—talk some sense into—”
Derek, that huge rectangle of a man, stepped closer and swept us both into a hug. I heard Alice squeak.
“Alice, Lisette,” he started, his voice cracking up a little, “this wasn’t… what I meant by Lisette was welcome as a member of the family.” He took a long breath. “But I’m proud and happy for you both.”
“Derek!” Gina snapped. “Eleanor,” she said, turning desperately back to where Alice’s mom was sitting, her lips pursed, just watching wordlessly. “What do you think you’re doing?”
Derek let go of us and stepped back, wiping tears from his eyes as he turned to Gina. “I’m telling my daughter I’m proud she found the person she loves.”
“Dad,” Alice said, her voice breaking.
“Love?” Gina put a hand in her hair. “You, too? Has everyone here lost their minds!?”
“Look, Gina, I’m not going to say I was expecting this,” he said, rubbing the back of his neck. “But I only have one daughter, and if she’s a lesbian, then I… I love my lesbian daughter.”
Gina took a step back, her eyes wide. “You’re willing to let your children stray from Jesus any time they feel like it? You’re willing to let this happen to Eleanor’s daughter?”
Derek shook his head. “I don’t know what the Lord’s plans are, but when I look at my daughter this happy with someone, I know it’s all a part of what He had in mind.”
“The Lord does not make mistakes!” Gina said, and Alice stepped forward, past me.
“Aunt Gina, I am not a mistake.”
“My daughter is not a mistake, Gina.” Derek narrowed his eyes. I stepped forward too.
“We aren’t mistakes, Gina.”
“They’re not mistakes!” I heard Rhys’s voice as she marched up, inserted herself between us and Gina, and put her hands on her hips. “Women can fall in love with women, too!”
“Oh, Lord save me, you’re telling these things to the children, too.” Gina shook her head, her eyes wide, and the gaggle of people with her murmured.
“How long were you going to hide it from me?” Rhys demanded. “What if I’d fallen in love with a girl? Would I have to just think it was wrong?”
“Rhys!” Gina’s voice dripped with venom.
“Gina,” I said, “That’s enough. We love each other.”
Gina looked between us all, clutching her chest. As people kept showing up, Henry next, and then Rose, and more of the kids, all standing on our side, finally she backed away, shaking her head.
“I can’t believe this. I can’t believe this. You’re all going to stand with—with—”
“With lesbians?” I offered, and she winced.
“Fine!” She spun on her heel, storming away. “Fine! Don’t say I didn’t try to help you—all of you! Don’t expect me back next time!”
Alice cheered, and stopped herself just as quickly. Gina’s group all glared at her before turning to storm out of the room after Gina, and once the last of them was gone, I broke down laughing.
“You couldn’t help yourself from cheering?” I said, turning to Alice. She giggled.
“I told you, I wear my heart on my sleeve.”
I felt a hand on my shoulder and I turned back, my heart jumping when I saw my mom standing there, a weird look on her face. “Lisette,” she said. “So… is that what you meant by the secret that would have hurt Alice?”
I stiffened. Even if Alice’s parents had been—or at least her dad had been—there was no reason to believe that… “Well… yes. It was that we were in love.”
She angry-squinted at me. “You mean you were in love and you told her to leave?”
I nodded. “I was afraid… her parents would hate her, that you might—”
“I told you I’ll love you no matter what. Were you listening?”
I blinked fast at her. “I—”
“And you, too, Alice?” she said, turning to where Alice was looking up at her, wide-eyed. “Look, I don’t do this nice stuff very often, but… you’re good for Lisette. I didn’t expect her to be…” She swallowed. “To be gay. But I’m glad it’s you. And if you’re going to be my daughter too, well, I love you too.”
“Mom,” I said, my voice small. “I… thank you.”
She glared at me. “Don’t think you’re off the hook, Lisette. I still want to know what you�
�re doing in conservatory.”
I squeezed my fists. “Mom, I’m not in conservatory. That was a lie too. I don’t like the violin anymore. I’m studying music production.”
Her eyes went wide, and she seemed to process it for a second. I honestly wasn’t sure if she was going to seriously take this worse than finding out I was a lesbian, but to my surprise, she laughed.
“Well, that explains why you haven’t been learning anything. That’s a relief. I was about to go find your teacher and demand to speak with him personally.”
I breathed out. Just as suddenly, though, her expression turned sour again.
“Music production? What a waste of your talents. Did I teach you all that for nothing? I don’t know why I bother.”
I winced. “It wasn’t for nothing—”
“Oh, forget it. At least you found a good partner. A good…” She gestured hopelessly at Alice. “Girlfriend.” She walked past me, towards Derek, and offered him a handshake. “Good luck with Lisette,” she said. “She’s difficult.”
I felt like I was in a different world as I watched our parents shake hands over us. I reached down, squeezed Alice’s hand, squeezed her fingertip, and she giggled.
“What?” she said, looking up at me. “You can just do it now.”
Well, she didn’t have to tell me twice.
I kissed her, as the Christmas music rose, the fireplace crackled, our family gathered around, and outside, snowflakes drifted down to join the endless carpet of white.
And when I kissed Alice, I felt like I was in the place I was born to be.
Thank You
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The Christmas Ball Page 17
