by KG MacGregor
Ninah had seen for herself that Britt could be deferential if she thought she was out of her depth. Still, it was hard to imagine her doing that in a romantic relationship with such a narcissist.
“Things got tense between us when we were breaking up. We both dumped about eleven years worth of petty resentment on each other, and Candice had a real gift for sarcasm. She apologized for dragging me out to parties all those times when I clearly didn’t want to go, and for making me get to know people I didn’t care about. She said if it weren’t for her, I wouldn’t have any friends at all, and I’d probably be happier.”
“I think most breakups are like that. The gloves come off.” Britt would be horrified to know how close she’d come to throwing dishes at Teri’s head when Teri low-balled her on her half of the house. Ninah had stormed out the back door, shaking so hard she couldn’t even drive off.
“I wasn’t going to let what she said be true. So after she left for Reno, I made a point to focus on my friends. Not fifty of them like she did, just three or four women that I honestly liked. That’s Holly, Izzy, Kim…Lourdes. I really will miss them. I’d like to think they’ll miss me too.”
“For what it’s worth, you can have as many friends in Leland as you want. You won’t find any better than Carly and Justine.”
“And you. In fact, if I were making that list today—what’s good about Leland—you guys are definitely one of the best things about being here.”
Ninah liked knowing Britt felt that way, even if she’d been lumped in with Carly and Justine. “I can’t speak for the rest of Leland but getting to know you is one of the best things that’s happened to me lately. I just wish you could feel better about being there.”
“Who knows? It could happen, I guess.” Said with absolutely zero enthusiasm. She groped behind her for her purse. “Hey, do you have a signal yet? You need to go online and get your ticket. Here, the flight info’s in the calendar on my phone. And use my credit card. Then I can work you like a dog and not have to feel guilty about it.”
“Hmm, luring me with sightseeing in exchange for a little work. Isn’t that how human trafficking usually starts?”
“Damn, I’ll never get you inside the storage unit now.”
“What are you gonna do with your car?”
Britt listed her options, each with pros and cons. “I don’t have time to drive it back here, so I’ll probably end up having it shipped on a transport. Which is one more thing I’ll need to take care of on Monday before we leave. The company said it could take a while, since they won’t go until they have a full truck.”
“I don’t have anything pressing next week. What if I drove it back?”
“Pfft. Four days on the road by yourself? That’s insane.”
On the contrary, Ninah envisioned a glorious road trip, the ultimate American experience. It would be great to finally see those parts of the country, even by herself. “No, it’ll be fun. I can take my time and see a few sights. The Grand Canyon, the Petrified Forest, the Gateway Arch. As long as your car has a stereo, I’m good to go.”
“It would solve a few problems,” Britt admitted. “And I wouldn’t have to ship my stuff back. I could just pack it all in the car.”
“It’s settled then. All I need is a one-way ticket.” Nearing the outskirts of Lexington, her phone had three bars. “Well, would you look at that? We picked up three more runs in the ninth and Dunwoody got the save. The Longdogs are on fire.”
“Making my job easier every day.”
Chapter Twenty-Four
“Mocha latte for Khaleesi!”
“What the heck?” Emmy asked as Ninah stepped forward and snatched her drink.
“The World’s Greatest Barista was too distracted by his girlfriend to notice me sneaking by with a fake name.” She witnessed a surreptitious look between Emmy and Ike. “I don’t get why you guys are torturing yourselves with all this secrecy.”
“It’s on our calendar to come clean, if you must know. Two weeks.”
“That’s the Pride picnic.”
“The day before, actually. Dad at lunch, Mom at dinner. Ike finishes that week at Leland Tech, so at least he’ll be able to wave around an associate degree in business. And don’t say, ‘Then what?’ That’s for Ike to answer. I’m proud of him no matter what he does next.”
“So am I, Emmy.” Ninah used a napkin to wipe off a table by the window. “You know, it’s possible the answer’s staring both of you right in the face. Carly’s got more than she can handle over at the courthouse. I bet she’d be glad to have Ike’s help to manage the store.”
Emmy shook her head vehemently. “I can’t go asking Carly to give my boyfriend a promotion. That’s taking advantage.”
“Not if it’s family. Look at your brother. JT set him up at the law firm. I bet he’s already started shuffling over his clients for when he retires. And there’s Britt, who’s now running her dad’s baseball team. That’s how a lot of the world works.”
“Carly’s got her own family. That cousin of hers with the furniture store, he’s got kids.”
“Don’t look now, but I’m pretty sure Carly considers you family, whether you do or not.” She instantly regretted her blatant shaming. “Not that it makes any difference, since I hear your mom owns half the place. But what do I know? Maybe running the most popular business in town isn’t the sort of career Ike has in mind.”
“Are you kidding? You should hear him talk about what he’d do if The Bean were his.” Emmy pointed to the elevated platform in the corner. “Like get a wine and beer license and bring in bands every weekend.”
“There you go. But none of it happens until you—”
“Shh! Carly’s coming.”
With the Saturday morning rush mostly over, Carly had doffed her apron and turned over the store to Melanie and Ike. “Thanks for waiting. Let’s get out of here before there’s another stampede. Justine said she’d meet us there.”
“You know,” Ninah said, “I really don’t need a whole committee to help me pack. I’ve been dressing myself for thirty-five years.”
“That’s not what you said an hour ago.”
Her exact quote was that Britt’s friends probably looked like the women on The L-Word and they’d all think she was a bumpkin. All she needed was help choosing an outfit that would pass muster when they went to the dyke bar Britt had raved about.
Once outside, Carly mumbled through gritted teeth, “Don’t look now, but your favorite person is heading right this way.”
Ninah groaned. “Quick, let’s cross the street.”
“Too late, she’s seen us.”
So what if it was rude? She didn’t need Teri Kaufman blotting her day in that hateful MAGA cap. When they crossed paths, she kept her gaze straight ahead and continued on several feet, stopping to wait as Carly and Emmy modeled better social skills.
“That’s it, Ninah. Just act like you don’t even know me. Real mature.”
“Actually, I’m standing over here because I do know you.”
Teri shook her head and turned to Carly. “Isn’t she ridiculous? Six years with somebody and she can’t even try to act like friends. Would you guys please talk some sense into her?”
Carly held up her hands. “This is for you two to work out. Don’t put Emmy and me in the middle of it.”
Feeling guilty for dumping this mess on her friends, Ninah sauntered back to where they stood. “Go on, guys. I’ll catch up in a minute.”
“See, was that so hard? You don’t have to keep dragging our friends into this and putting them on the spot like that.”
It was all Ninah could do not to tell her how many of their friends wanted to gag every time they saw her in that despicable hat. “You’re the one dragging them into it, Teri. How about next time you just carry on with your little chitchat and let me stand quietly out of the way? Ignore me like I’m trying to ignore you.”
Teri sighed dramatically and folded her arms. “You are so fucking childish, Nina
h. Three years of this.”
“And three years of hate, lies, and stupidity.”
“Aw, get over it already. I have a right to my own opinions.”
“And I have a right to think supporting a racist for president makes you deplorable. Are we good?”
“Little Miss Perfect, always think you’re right about everything, that we’re all racist for wanting our jobs back, or for thinking people ought to stand for the national anthem after soldiers died for it.”
“What I’m right about is Trump dished out a plateful of hate and people like you ate it up. Now I’ve got high school kids chanting his name while they torment their classmates like it’s Lord of the Flies.” Ninah could feel her chest heating up, which meant her face was probably bright red.
“You think that’s my fault?”
“I think when they see you prancing around in that fucking hat, they feel emboldened to do it because they know you’ve got their back.”
“Well so does two-thirds of Kentucky. You’re the odd one out here.”
“And I’m damned proud of it.” She whirled away and tried not to stomp as she made her retreat. It would be just her luck to trip over a crack in the sidewalk.
Of all days to get sucked into an ugly confrontation with Teri. That two-thirds of Kentuckians agreed with her was an inescapable fact. No wonder Britt preferred California.
She walked briskly to her house three blocks away. “Sorry, guys,” she called as she let herself into Emmy’s apartment.
Emmy met her at the top of the stairs. “No prob. At least she doesn’t come to the hospital in that hat. Come on, let’s find you something to wear.”
Willing Teri from her thoughts, she eyed the array of clothes spread out on Emmy’s bed. “Okay, but we need to hurry. I have to be at Britt’s house in two hours and I can’t show up looking like a bumpkin.”
“Stop calling yourself that. If you’re a bumpkin, Carly and I are bumpkins too.”
“I’ve been called worse,” Carly said flatly, peering up from the Gazette over a pair of cockeyed reading glasses.
Rummaging through her closet, Emmy said, “Is a bumpkin an actual thing, or just a stupid-sounding name?”
“It’s a yokel, a hillbilly,” Carly said. “A hick, a hayseed.”
“Enough already.” Ninah groaned and fell back on the bed. “I hate you both.”
Carly bounced on the springs beside her. “Come on, what’s the big deal? She wants you to meet her friends. Are you honestly worried she’s gonna hold you up for ridicule?”
“I’m worried I’ll do that all by myself. Once she gets me there side by side with those other women, it’s gonna hit her what a…what an apple-knocker I am.”
“For God’s sake, Ninah.” Emmy’s voice was sharper than usual. “You make it sound like you’re dating out of your species.”
That was rich coming from a woman who was sneaking around to hide her boyfriend. “We’re not dating. But if we were, some differences would matter. Class, culture…perceived status. Or don’t they?”
Emmy sneered at her with one eye shut and almost smiled.
“Emmy’s right, Ninah. My company sent me to live in Bolivia when I was twenty-four years old. Talk about feeling self-conscious…but I got through it. Then it was India, Shanghai, Johannesburg. Turns out you can feel at home anywhere as long as you’re comfortable in your own skin.”
“I’m excited and all…I just don’t wanna embarrass her in front of her friends.”
Emmy began plucking things from her closet. “Which is why we’re here. Now start trying this stuff on.”
Only two years out of pharmacy school, Emmy had a more youthful sense of style. Too bad she was six inches taller. “Don’t bother with the pants. I’d have to pull them up to my armpits.”
After trying on a dozen combinations, they settled on an off-the-shoulder top in a leopard print, which she’d wear over black leggings.
“I don’t think I’ve ever worn anything so dainty in all my life.”
“It’s not dainty, it’s hip,” Emmy proclaimed. “I’d take you anywhere.”
Ninah had to admit it was a thousand times classier than anything she could have managed on her own. “I’m taking you with me next time I go shopping.”
“Hello!” Justine called from downstairs.
“Come on up, sweetie. We’re playing Dress the Bumpkin.”
“They’ve turned me into a home-ec project,” Ninah groused. “Or a reality show…Straight Eye for the Queer Gal.”
“This is darling,” Justine said as she fingered the silky top. “Bet you get lucky.”
“God, I officially hate all three of you. If we have to talk about sex lives, let it be somebody else.”
Emmy waved her finger wildly. “Oh, no you don’t. Because somebody else would mean either me or those two. I can’t even.”
“Never mind,” Justine said as she fell across Carly’s lap. “I wanna hear you swear you aren’t moving to California.”
“Why would I do that?” Clearly they thought she and Britt were going down a different road.
“I talked to Britt a little while ago during my cool-down. Said you took her to Coal Springs.”
Ninah loved that Britt had forged a special bond with Justine. But then Justine had a magical way of making everyone think she was their best friend.
“I was trying to make a point with Coal Springs. I wanted her to see what a real small town looked like. At least now she totally gets why I think Leland is the cat’s meow.”
“She’ll fall to our charms one of these days.”
“The flip side of that is Teri Kaufman.” As Ninah changed back into her own clothes, she provided a quick rundown of their annoying encounter. “Right there’s the downside of living in a small town. There’s no getting away from people you can’t stand. Teri’s gonna be in my face for the rest of my life.”
As Emmy put some things on hangers, Justine carefully folded the rest. “I know you don’t wanna hear this, sweetie—Lord knows I don’t wanna be the one to say it—but you and Teri need to have a come-to-Jesus meeting. The way you light each other up, that’s not good for either of you.”
“We just had one. I told her from now on she could pretend I wasn’t even there and I’d do the same.”
“While the rest of us stand around choking on the ice in the air? You’re both gonna have to do better than that.”
The words hit Ninah like a bad stew. Did Justine honestly expect her to put her principles aside for the sake of harmony over potluck dinners? “I can’t show her respect and dignity while she’s denying it to other people.”
“All I’m asking is for you to see if there might be a way to make peace with her. We’re surrounded by Trump people, Ninah, all of us. How do you think I feel sitting across the table from Trey’s in-laws? Or Joe and Margie Henderson, whom I love with all my heart? We can’t let politics tear us up like this. We’ve gotta find a way to get along without being at each other’s throats.”
“So I’m supposed to just roll over while she shoves that stupid MAGA hat in my face? It’s deliberately provocative. I stood outside the courthouse in the snow protesting against Tiny Watson for not giving y’all a marriage license. Now you want me to sell out my integrity so people don’t have to feel awkward.”
Carly spoke up, “Ninah, that’s not what Justine’s—”
“Forget it, Carly. It’s no big deal.” She collected the borrowed items and readied to leave, but stopped in the doorway to add, “Lord knows we shouldn’t make people feel uncomfortable over something as harmless as racism. Next time you wanna invite Teri somewhere, just give me a heads up and I’ll skip it.”
Chapter Twenty-Five
Britt hoisted her suitcase from the carousel and rolled it alongside Ninah’s to an area outside the ladies’ room. Ninah had gone inside to repair what she called a “balloon face,” the result of a day’s worth of tears. Nothing Britt said would calm her distress over a morning quarrel wit
h Justine.
Justine, of all people, she’d wailed.
Inconsolable, Ninah had called her from the Dallas airport during their layover, gushing a tearful apology. Then with characteristic kindness, Justine forgave her unconditionally, which spawned fresh tears of gratitude. The moment they’d touched down in San Diego, Ninah promised to put the incident behind her so they could enjoy what little time they had here.
Britt couldn’t wait to show off her city. Her exhilaration at being back in San Diego convinced her this was her true home, and no amount of success in Leland would change that.
“Thanks for waiting. I look human again.”
She spun to find Ninah refreshed and smiling, and it triggered an impulse to hug her. “You look great. How are you feeling?”
“Justine texted me a virtual box of chocolates. I love that woman so much. I wouldn’t have slept tonight if she hadn’t forgiven me. I have to learn to think before I speak.” She grasped the handle of her suitcase and snapped her heels at attention. “But it’s all settled now, so as of this minute, I’m completely yours. And I can’t wait to see your beloved San Diego. Lead the way.”
“Unfortunately, we can’t see much at night. The Coronado Bridge is lit up, but you don’t get the same impression as when you see the whole harbor on a sunny day. It’s breathtaking. But don’t worry, we’ll have time on Monday.” She ordered their Uber as they crossed the skyway to the ground transportation area. Along the way, she shared her disappointment that Holly hadn’t yet answered her text to confirm the gathering tomorrow at Gossip Grill. “Sundays are laid-back but they can be iffy too, especially if it’s been a busy weekend. I hope it works out. You’d like it there.”
“I came to see your city. Everything else is icing on the cake.”
After only a short wait, they climbed into the back of a Nissan Rogue driven by Julio. Ninah asked, “How does it feel to be back?”
“I’ve got about six different emotions going on all at the same time. It’s hard to pick just one.”
