Her head maneuvered closer and tilted down slightly as she concentrated harder. Her fingers began the complex series of chord progressions and counterpoints to what Monica played a few feet away. She pressed her lips together. Her eyes flashed back and forth, reading and rereading what was coming next, even the measure number she colored over with a black sharpie so she couldn’t make herself anxious. Her fingers ran up and down the keys. Her mind zoned into what she was doing. She nodded again, and the pages changed.
She kept her teeth clenched behind her lips. Her eyes stopped looking for measure numbers because she’d blackened out so many. When she intentionally looked at the next one, she read 112. She got through without a hitch! Lily felt the excitement inside her but forced it aside. The song wasn’t over, and she needed to concentrate.
The choir’s final notes faded with Mr. Larson’s decrescendo signal getting smaller into a hand drop. Monica and Lily continued playing the last eight measures, both striking their final chords with the conviction the piece deserved. Mr. Larson held his arms up for a moment after the pianos fell silent, then dropped them with a smile.
Once again, the audience applauded as Lily took a deep breath to calm herself down. Mr. Larson recognized the choir as he walked in between the pianos. He then recognized Monica, who stood up and faced the audience, resting her right hand on the edge of the piano. His hand extended to Lily. She got up, walking over to stand next to Monica, who reached over and took her hand. They both bowed and looked at each other as the audience rose to their feet.
“You didn’t have to play B,” Monica said, just audible enough for her to hear.
“I wanted to,” Lily told her. “I love you, and you deserve the best effort I can give.”
Monica smiled and pulled her in for a kiss, much to the approval of everyone in the venue.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
One year later
Monica had her phone in her hand, camera app at the ready, waiting with growing impatience. She was happy for everyone walking across the stage, but the only two she wanted to get pictures of were Lily and Kendra. To her right, Judy sat cross-legged. On the left, her moms and Tricia. Everyone had a phone in hand.
“Steven James Parker.”
“Kelly Ann Prescott.”
In unison, Monica, her family, and Judy raised their phones and got ready to take pictures.
“Kendra Jane Readdie.”
Phone cameras flashed, clicked, and sounded like an infantry running into battle as Kendra received her diploma. Kendra smiled at her family and waved as she walked across the stage.
“Elizabeth June Rees.”
“Jeffrey Alan Richardson.”
“Stephanie Jane Rogers.”
“I know how much changing her last name helped Lil,” Judy said. “But if I kept her last name as it was, then she would’ve gone across by now. This wait is agonizing.”
Monica giggled and looked at her. “It’s a good thing she isn’t in earshot to hear that.”
Judy laughed softly and scanned the line of graduating students. “Oh! Almost there!”
“Johnathan Mark Scott.”
“Matthew James Smith.”
Both of them had their cameras pointing at the stage.
“Lillian Grace Starr.”
Judy and Monica took picture after picture as Lily walked across the stage, received her diploma, and returned to her seat. They also took a slight break to clap and cheer for her, which ended up giving Monica one of her favorite pictures of the entire ceremony…Lily looking at them from the corner of her eye, smiling and using her free hand to sign the phrase, “I love you."
After the ceremony ended and the graduates filed out of the gymnasium, Monica and Judy met the rest of the Readdie clan and set off in search of Lily and Kendra. They found them just outside the gymnasium doors hugging each other.
“I’m so proud of you, sis,” Monica said, hugging Kendra with all her might.
“Thanks, Monica,” Kendra said before exchanging hugs with her family.
“There she is!” Judy exclaimed, giving Lily a tight hug. “I’m so proud of you, Lil.”
“Thanks, Aunt Judy,” Lily said.
Monica took her turn and added a tender kiss. “Congrats, baby.”
Lily kissed her back and kept holding her. “Thanks, hun.”
Monica’s family each took turns hugging Lily and congratulating her. Over the last year, Lily grew close with the Readdie family. They all gave her a chance and welcomed her with open arms. Nobody brought up the past and shut down the conversations when Lily asked if they were still mad at her. They didn’t do it because they were mad. They’d put it behind them years ago and wouldn’t let that day define who Lily was today. As soon as Lily accepted they weren’t judging her, she embraced them right back.
“Let’s get some pictures outside,” Judy suggested.
The group went outside and took what felt like hundreds upon hundreds of pictures. Kendra by herself. Lily by herself. Lily with Judy. Kendra with Debra and Evelyn. Monica and Lily together. Kendra and Tricia. Lily, Monica, and Judy. Lily with Kendra. Serious pictures. Silly pictures. During the shoot, many of Lily’s and Kendra’s friends came by to congratulate them.
“Ready, everyone?” Debra asked. “We’ve got a double party to get started.”
“Yep,” Lily answered, reaching for Monica’s hand.
“Oh yeah!” Kendra declared. “Time to pah-tay!”
They all began to walk to their cars until another voice called out. “Monica!”
Monica and Lily stopped to turn around, both grinning when they recognized who called out for her.
“Hey, Olivia,” she said, hugging her. “How are you? Congrats on being named pianist for next year!”
“Thank you,” Olivia said with a shy grin. “I just hope I’m half as good as you two were. I have a question for you.”
Monica smiled and turned her attention to Olivia. “Of course!”
“My piano teacher died last month,” she began. “Since you’re doing Music Education, I was wondering if you’d be interested in helping me.”
“I’m sorry about your teacher,” Monica said. “I’d be happy to help. What’s your work schedule this summer?”
“I’m usually on the closing crew,” she answered sounding a little dejected. “I work four or five nights per week, and it varies.”
“How about during the day?” she asked.
Olivia’s bleak expression turned into a smile. “That’d work! Would Wednesdays fit into your schedule?”
“Sure would,” Monica said. “What time?”
“Afternoon?”
“Two o’clock?”
“Great!” Olivia said. “See you on Wednesday!”
“I look forward to it,” Monica told her. “Let’s just plan on showing me what you’re working with now, and pick out three or four pieces to play so I can get familiar with your style and such.”
“You got it!”
They hugged each other and Monica again took Lily’s hand and continued to Judy’s car.
“Your first teaching gig,” Lily said. “That’s exciting!”
Monica giggled and squeezed her. “I just hope I don’t mess her up.”
“You’ll be fine, babe. If you can bring the best out of me, you can help anyone.”
Five graduation parties and one large dinner later, Monica rested on Judy’s couch with Lily cuddled up with her. She still loved feeling Lily’s body up against hers. Lily’s left arm once again acted as a pillow, and her right arm draped over her. This time, they faced each other with Monica nuzzling into Lily’s neck.
“Monica,” Judy said, “how is Tricia doing after all that stuff a couple of months ago?”
“Not good,” Monica said. “She dealt with a lot of stuff those two weeks she was in jail. A lot of it she isn’t telling us about.”
“Poor girl. Let her know I’m thinking about her.”
Monica nodded solemnly. “I will. Kendra,
Lily, and I will keep tabs on her when classes start this fall.”
“Good,” Judy said. “Having the three of you there will help her a lot.”
The three women remained silent for several minutes before Monica changed the subject.
“Lily, are you looking forward to joining me on campus in a few months?”
“Of course,” Lily told her. “I hope my dorm is close to yours. But with my luck, I’ll be on the other side of campus.”
“Oh!” Judy exclaimed, getting up from her chair to flip through a pile of mail. “I forgot! This came for you, Lil. I think it’s the one telling you where your dorm is.”
Judy handed Lily the envelope, and she opened it up. She read through the letter, her face beaming more and more.
“Oh my gosh,” she whispered.
“What?” Monica asked. “You’re on the other side of campus, aren’t you?”
“No, I’m not,” Lily answered. “I have a hunch that I’m going to get along great with my roommate, though.”
“Who’s your roommate?” Judy asked.
“Monica!” Lily exclaimed, putting the letter down and hugging her.
Judy beamed right along with them. “That’s exciting! I wonder how that happened.”
“One of the benefits of having a friend in housing,” Monica told them. “I was able to claim a double, and they let me pick my roommate. I know you’re anxious about starting the music program, babe, so I thought you’d like it if we were together.”
“Thanks, Monica,” Lily told her with a squeeze. “I love you.”
“Love you too, Lily.”
The two of them talked about college and how to decorate their room when they move in. They shared ideas, and Monica gave her some tips on supplies. Eventually, however, the excitement of the day caught up with both of them, and they fell asleep in each other’s arms.
Excerpt from Rebuilding Christmas (Prequel to Duet)
Heavy, wet snow transformed into large, harmless raindrops upon impact with Evelyn Readdie’s windshield. Wipers on her dark green minivan waved back and forth, their efforts to keep the windshield clear in vain thanks to the water streaks left in their wake. She checked her rearview mirror, the line of cars now extending into the middle of the street in both directions. Her thumbs tapped out a random, non-repeating cadence against the steering wheel. The wet snow would soon begin to freeze, putting their travel plans in jeopardy.
The parking lot stood in silence as the snow fell. Evelyn checked her phone for a text message and sighed when it didn’t show anything. A distraction was just what she needed, and she turned her radio to the only radio station in Des Moines that played Christmas music 24/7. Springsteen belted out his cut of “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” and her thumbs now tapped against the steering wheel to the beat. Evelyn even sang along.
But it was all an exercise in futility. She couldn’t clear her mind from the one thing that’s dominated her thoughts for the last month. Her fingers tapped her phone’s screen a few times and she put the phone to her ear. Five rings sounded, and it rolled to voicemail. She closed her eyes and sighed as she listened to the voicemail greeting.
“Hey,” she said, sounding dejected and lost. “Can we talk about this, please? I miss you.” Feeling her voice about to waiver more than it already had, Evelyn decided to end the call. “Please talk to me, babe.”
Evelyn’s heart sank as she hung up after leaving what had to have been her hundredth voicemail. More than anything, she longed to talk and fix her marriage. She was ready to do whatever it took to have her family back together. The last month stripped her energy. Her housing situation made her sick to her stomach. Lack of sleep made her testy with anyone she came in contact with.
Her phone slipped from her hands, dropped onto her lap, bounced off her leg, and landed on the floor. The radio now played Burl Ives and she slammed her hand into the volume knob. The music went silent, and the small plastic knob fell to the floor in pieces, coming to rest next to her phone. She looked at the floor, covered her face with her hands, and cried. Her shame followed her ever since that night. She couldn’t blame anyone else either.
When it came down to it, Evelyn knew she made a colossal mistake. She was the one who got drunk. She was the one wrapped around someone else sharing smiles and kisses at her wife’s company Thanksgiving party. Most importantly, she drove a stake into the marriage she cherished, and that same stake pierced through the heart of the woman she loved.
Evelyn missed lying on the couch with her wife, most of the time watching their favorite shows on TV. Other times, they just enjoyed the silence or soft music in the background. She missed the four of them sitting at the table talking about their days over dinner. She missed the smiles on her daughters’ faces when they shared one of their family hugs. She missed the safety she felt when her wife held her—and the tighter the better.
She missed her wife.
The bell echoed throughout the grounds. Her youngest would be there within a couple of minutes. Evelyn took several deep breaths trying to reign in her emotions. Before long her daughter came bounding down the sidewalk toward her. Bundled up in her dark blue winter coat, pink mittens and earmuffs, and brown boots, the girl made her way to the van. The girl’s long hair went past her shoulder blades and bounced as she moved. Evelyn giggled, marveling at the girl’s resilience over the last month.
“Hi, Mom,” the girl said as soon as the door opened. She got in, closed the door, and looked at her mother. “Debra still won’t talk to you?”
Evelyn sighed but also smiled at how intuitive she was. “Hey, Monica! She still won’t talk to me,” she told her daughter before putting the van into gear and driving away.
“Are we still going to Chicago?”
“Yes, we are. We’re heading to Debra’s after we pick up Tricia.”
“Why won’t Debra talk to you?” Monica asked. “You made a mistake. Married people love each other so much that they forgive each other and move on, right?”
She put on a smile and studied her daughter’s anguished expression in the mirror. “I wish it was that simple, Monica. There’s so much more to it though. I messed up, honey. I hurt Debra a lot.”
Monica sat in the back seat pondering that answer. “She hurt you first, though. Isn’t she why we don’t have Kendra living with us? Has she even told you why she changed her mind about adopting?”
Evelyn sighed and shrugged. “No she hasn’t, honey. I didn’t lash out at Debra because we lost a chance to foster and adopt Kendra, but I still hurt her. Two wrongs don’t make a right.”
Monica’s eyes narrowed. “She should still talk to you.”
The light turned green and Evelyn continued to the high school. “Oh, Monica, I’d love it if she did.”
Evelyn stopped at a stop sign on Main Street, and the engine stalled. She turned the ignition. The engine cranked, but wouldn’t fire. She thought the engine light was on for an oil change, but now she realized it was a different problem.
“Please,” she whispered, trying to start the engine again. “Just get us to Debra’s house.”
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About the Author
Lizzie Lawson lives in a small town with her wife, three daughters, two dogs, and more kid toys than she ever thought possible. When she isn’t at home trying to conquer the ever-changing landscape of Mt. Laundry, she’s on the road for her full-time job as a motorcoach operator. Lizzie loves to incorporate what she sees into her stories, and her job gives her an endless source of ideas.
Lizzie writes fun, clean LGBTQ stories in contemporary settings. She loves giving her characters a chance to tell their stories for others to enjoy.
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Duet (Readdie Family Book 1) Page 12
