Gloria’s Secret

by Robin Alexander

  We left the mall with enough warm clothes to last the visit, even though it could be forty degrees on one day and eighty the next in the South. Nevertheless, we were well-stocked with winter clothes, thick socks, and boots, even though there was no snow.

  Once we loaded the van, Wanda gave me the look. And I wracked my brain for excuses to keep maniac Margaret from behind the wheel.

  “Margaret, why don’t you sit back here with me and Hayden?” Adrienne said before I could speak up. “You can show me the sights without having to drive at the same time.”

  This seemed to appeal to my mom and she relinquished the keys. Wanda shot me a conspiratorial but grateful smile and took the wheel.

  Navigating Jackson Square on crutches was a tad daunting, but I managed. They chafed me under the arms when I got lazy and allowed them to come in contact with my body, but otherwise I was just as fast as the group. I was able to save my strength with frequent breaks, while Wanda and Mom took Adrienne into the shops that lined the grounds of the cathedral.

  We enjoyed lunch at one of the cafés on Bourbon Street, and Adrienne got a good dose of everything the famous street had to offer, including a hurricane. I’d popped half of one of the pain pills from the prescription we’d filled earlier at a pharmacy while we roamed the Quarter. Mixing that with a hurricane would have put me under the table, so I sipped a Coke while Mom and the girls enjoyed their drinks in Pat O’Brien’s courtyard. I estimated that one of those hurricanes probably equaled three strong cocktails. I didn’t share this with Adrienne, who had become giddy along with her two new best friends.

  “We need to start serving these at the inn, they’d be a hit.” Adrienne looked at me with glassy eyes.

  “Oh, they’re a hit, all right. Wait until you stand up, then you’ll understand what I mean.”

  Mom sank back into her chair and let out a contented sigh. “I haven’t had one of these since your father and I were dating.”

  “You’re kidding me,” Wanda said.

  “Blake and I have our circle of friends and none are too fond of the French Quarter.” Mom raised her glass. “You can get a hurricane anywhere around here, but none compare to Pat O’s.”

  “Well, I’m glad you’re finally able to let your hair down a bit.” Adrienne raised her glass and clinked it against Mom’s.

  “I haven’t let my hair down in years. That’s why I’m looking forward to a girl’s week at your inn.”

  “You’re seriously coming?” I asked.

  “I really want to,” Mom said meekly at first, then jutted her chin up in defiance. “You know what? I’m going to do it.”

  “When?” Wanda asked excitedly.

  “Can you get time off from work in the spring?”

  “I work part time. I can get time off anytime I want it.”

  “We might not have to wait until spring then.” Mom winked.

  “Mom, have you ever taken a trip without Dad?”

  “Never, but it won’t kill him for me to take one now,” she said with a sly grin. “There’s nothing to keep me tied to the house anymore.” Mom looked at me. “I’m sorry if that sounded bad. I never minded being home with you and your brother.” She smiled sadly. “Some of the sweetest times of my life were spent with you two.”

  “You didn’t need to clarify. I understood what you meant. And just for the record, I remember a day that you did mind being home with us. Need I remind you of the great gerbil escape?”

  Mom groaned and took a sip of her drink. “I’ll never forget that.”

  “Me and Jeff had gerbils, Jimmy and Jerry, but we found out later that we should have named them Jimmy and Jenny instead. Before long, we had a herd of gerbils.”

  Wanda scrubbed at the goose bumps on her arms. “Eww, I know where this is going.”

  “Eww is right,” Mom chimed in and gave Adrienne a nudge. “They look just like mice. They make my skin crawl.”

  “They were adorable. You just didn’t get to know them,” I said.

  “I got to know one in particular really well,” Mom shot back.

  Adrienne grinned. “I think I need to hear this story.”

  “Okay, the habitat was in Jeff’s room, but he wouldn’t let me in there to play with the gerbils as often as I wanted. So we decided to split the habitat into two pieces.”

  “This thing was huge,” Mom said. “Every time Jenny had babies, we were forced to add onto it. There must have been two dozen gerbils in that thing.”

  “So while you were splitting up the habitat, there was an escape,” Wanda surmised.

  “Oh, yeah,” I said with a grin. “When we pulled one of the sections apart, there was a mass exodus. Gerbils were flying out of that thing like popcorn. Jeff was smart enough to close his door while we caught as many as we could. It took us about two hours to get them all back in.”

  Mom held up a finger. “Except for one.”

  “And apparently, he was suicidal.” I laughed at the memory. “The next night, he found his way into Mom’s bedroom and climbed up the blankets onto the bed.”

  “I felt something up against my neck.” Mom shuddered. “I was half asleep, so I just reached up and grabbed it, then it bit me.”

  “Oh, heebie geebies.” Wanda scrubbed at her arms and neck.

  “So how did he commit suicide?” Adrienne asked. “Sounds like there may have been a murder to me.”

  “He was suicidal because he picked the one person in the house to climb on that would kill him instantly, and she did.”

  “The rest of them, minus two, went to the pet store, and I made sure the two we kept were the same sex,” Mom said. “As I said, I have many sweet memories with my children and an occasional nightmare.” She looked at me then. “Just because you’ve grown up doesn’t mean we can’t make more. That’s why I’m looking forward to coming to the inn.”

  I looked over at Mom and marveled at the change in her that occurred since I’d moved to the island. I wasn’t entirely sure who she was, or for that matter who I was. I’d spent my teen and some of my adult years trying to distance myself from her. Now I regretted that I’d be leaving her in a few days. I suppose she wasn’t the only one doing some changing because I meant the words that came tumbling from my mouth. “I’m looking forward to having you.”

  “Well, I can’t have any more of this.” Wanda pushed her glass away. “I won’t be able to function if I do.”

  I was relieved to see that Wanda’s glass was almost full, because she was going to be driving us home if I could get the keys from mom.

  “You all need something to absorb that alcohol and there’s nothing better for that than beignets,” I said, taking advantage of their weakened mental capacity, so I could get my doughnut fix. “Café Du Monde is only a few blocks away.”

  Our trip to the famous café was delayed by stops at several stores along the way. I watched as my lover was led around the stores by my mother and sister-in-law. Mom looped her arm through Adrienne’s at one point as they strolled along. I wasn’t even sure if she’d realized what she had done. This was something I never thought I’d see, and it touched me deeply.

  “I bought a print for Iris,” Adrienne said as she came out of the shop. “And I bought Colie a string of Mardi Gras beads with boobies on them.”

  I had to laugh at her semi-drunken purchase. “I’m sure they’ll love them,” I said, looking into her sparkling green eyes. “I love you, you know.”

  “I love you, too, and I’m getting really attached to your mom.”

  Mom and Wanda joined us on the street and we made our way to Café Du Monde. I was drooling by the time we got there.

  We were seated at a table on the patio and listened to a man playing a jazz tune on his saxophone out on the street until the waiter arrived to take our order.

  “Do we want to split a couple of orders?” Mom asked.

  “Nope, I need my own order, a chocolate milk, and a coffee,” I said to the waiter while he scribbled on a small tablet.
r />   “I’ll split an order with you, Margaret,” Adrienne offered. “I’m not all that hungry.”

  Wanda ordered the same as me, minus the milk.

  When the hot plate of French doughnuts was set on the table in front of me, I nearly cried with joy. I began ripping holes in each of them to let the heat out. Once I got started, I didn’t plan to stop. The first bite was bliss, the last bite was agony. I was so full, I wanted to find a warm spot and nap like a cat. Obviously, Mom and Adrienne didn’t know how to properly wolf down the treats, so Wanda and I waited patiently as they nibbled their beignets and sipped coffee. Perhaps it was more civilized to eat in this manner, but I was certain they didn’t enjoy the snack as much as I did.

  My hand rested on the back of Adrienne’s chair, and occasionally I would stroke her back or toy with her hair. My discreet show of affection was not appreciated by the woman sitting behind us. And she said as much when she stood to leave.

  “You can’t turn a corner in this city without running into a queer,” she said to her companion, but loud enough for us all to hear. Then she shoved her chair into mine, hard enough to rattle my teeth.

  “You should feel right at home then,” I said over my shoulder.

  “Are you speaking to me?”

  I turned in my seat and smiled. “Yep, you must have great gaydar if you can spot a queer on every corner. You know the saying, ‘it takes one to know one.’”

  Adrienne nudged me in the ribs, warning me not to push it any further.

  “I ain’t no queer,” the stranger said with venom dripping from her voice.

  “If you say so,” I said nonchalantly as I stirred my coffee and looked back up at her with a smile.

  The woman hesitated as if she wanted to say more and looked over at Wanda and Mom who sat side by side. Wanda draped her arm over Mom’s shoulders and waggled her brows. I suppose the narrow-minded woman and her friend felt they were outnumbered and promptly left in a huff.

  It took a minute for Mom to realize what Wanda had implied by her actions. She looked mortified when it sank in, and I burst out laughing, sending a spray of powdered sugar, that was left over on my plate, straight into Mom’s lap.

  “Wanda, I had no idea you were this much fun,” I said with a chuckle. “All these years you’ve been married to my brother and I’ve never really gotten to know you.”

  “Apparently, I don’t know her all that well, either,” Mom said with a mock scowl.

  “Better late than never,” Wanda said. “I’m sure the Tate men are having chest pains now that the Tate women have bonded.”

  Mom reached over and patted Adrienne’s hand. “I bet they are.”

  We returned home, ate leftovers for dinner, and lay around the living room until we were too tired to hold our eyes open. When Adrienne and I finally retired for the evening, we lay in bed laughing at the events of the day.

  “Two days down, and five to go,” I said. “I think we’re going to make it.”

  Adrienne reached down and laced her fingers with mine. “I really enjoyed myself today.”

  “Me too, and it’s because you were here to share it with me.”

  She turned and looked into my eyes. “I’m glad you brought me.”

  “Well, we have five days to go. You may change your mind before then,” I said with a laugh.

  It was ironic how prophetic that turned out to be.

  Chapter Fourteen

  The next two days were a blur. We’d gone to the French Market and shopped until my crutches could no longer support me. The four of us girls rode the trolley through the streets of New Orleans and took a riverboat ride. We’d done all the tourist things until I was certain that Adrienne had had her fill.

  Christmas Eve was a day away. We would be expected to be at home for the holiday festivities, so I thought it would be a good idea for Adrienne and me to have a night out alone. We had the porch to ourselves when I propositioned her.

  “Would you like to go on a date with me this evening?”

  “What do you have in mind?” Adrienne raised an eyebrow.

  “I thought we could have dinner, then I’d take you to one of my old haunts.”

  “Sounds lovely, but I’ll only agree if you’ll take one of your pain pills and lay down for a while. I’ve seen the pain on your face the last couple of days and I think you need a break.”

  “Only if you’ll lay down with me.”

  We took a nap that lasted about four hours, then dressed and headed out. We dined at one of my favorite Italian restaurants, then made our way to Kelly’s, a lesbian hangout where I’d spent much of my youth.

  It was early when we arrived, so a prime spot at the bar was easy pickings. Adrienne and I settled at the bar and waited to order drinks. A familiar face greeted us with a smile.

  “Hayden, it’s been ages. Where you been, bitch?” the bartender asked playfully.

  “I’m living in the Bahamas now,” I said with a big grin. “And this is my partner, Adrienne.”

  “Carol, and it’s a pleasure to meet you, pretty lady,” the bartender said as she shook Adrienne’s hand. “So the Bahamas, no shit?”

  “No shit, my Aunt Gloria passed away and left me her half of the business.”

  “I wondered why you stopped coming around. What can I get y’all to drink?”

  I looked at Adrienne as she debated and finally said, “Vodka and cranberry.”

  “Make that two. What have you been up to?” I asked as Carol made our drinks.

  Carol shrugged. “Not a damn thing. Just tending bar and chasing women.”

  “Any of the old gang come in anymore?”

  “Chantal and Dawn still hang out, they’re a couple now.” Carol put the drinks down in front of us. “No charge,” she said as I pulled money from my pocket. “The first round is on me.”

  “Thank you,” Adrienne and I said in unison.

  “I’ve got to serve up a few drinks. I’ll be back in a minute,” Carol said as she slipped away.

  From our vantage point at the bar, we could see the door and I watched it with nervous anticipation. I couldn’t explain it, but I just knew that Carla would show up, though as I recall, she rarely went out on a weeknight.

  Adrienne leaned in close so that I could hear over the music. “We don’t have to stay if you’re worried about seeing your ex.”

  “This was my hangout. She didn’t start coming here until we were dating, so I kind of feel like it’s my territory. I’m not going to let her run me out of here.”

  Adrienne nodded in understanding.

  “Are you bored?” I asked. I couldn’t shoot pool or dance because of my leg. We were stuck at the bar and I was afraid she wasn’t having a good time.

  “No, I’m fine. It’s nice being here with you,” she said with a sweet smile.

  The door opened and a few people I recognized trickled in. They made a beeline for the bar and noticed us sitting there. Soon a crowd was gathered around us, and I struggled to remember all the names while I introduced them to Adrienne. She got more than a few admiring stares.

  Stories were told about the times I got drunk and knocked out the light over the pool table with the pool cue. And to my chagrin, the one about me throwing up in someone’s car when she drove me home after a particularly wild night of partying. Adrienne listened and enjoyed every tale, all the while begging for more.

  We were so caught up in the banter that I didn’t notice Carla coming into the bar with the woman she left me for. However, when she took a seat at the opposite end of the bar, our eyes met briefly.

  “Carla’s here and she’s still pissed,” Adrienne whispered in my ear.

  “I know, I saw her sit down.”

  “Ignore her. She wants you to notice her,” Adrienne said with a wink.

  “No problem there.” And it wasn’t. Carla hurt me, but I got over it quickly and came to realize that I didn’t feel as much for her as I thought I did. The woman sitting next to me was my world, and no one could
compare to that.

  We continued to laugh and joke with the group, and I never gave Carla a second look. When she grew tired of waiting for me to notice her angry looks, she and her pet made their way around to our side of the bar. She settled on the stool next to Adrienne and leaned over so I had no choice but to look at her.

  “You owe me some money for the damages to my car,” she said.

  “And you owe me money for all the clothes you took, not to mention my CDs, but I’m willing to call it even.”

  She looked down and noticed the crutches and grinned. “What happened? Somebody beat your ass for being a prick?”

  “Nope, much to your displeasure, I’m sure, it was only an accident.”

  “There’s still the unfinished business with my car,” Carla said, apparently unable to come up with another jab. “You owe me for the cleaning and deodorizing.”

  “Let me make this clear. I don’t owe you a cent. You deserved it, and like I said, we’re even after you took most of my personal items. So piss off.”

  Carla’s moose bristled at my remark and moved in closer, crowding Adrienne even more.

  “You and Bigfoot need to scoot farther down, you’re breathing all over my partner,” I said, feeling my hackles rise. Carla’s mammoth girlfriend could have easily stomped a mud hole in my ass, but I planned to leave some crutch marks on her head if she tried.

  “You can stop with the childish name calling,” Carla said snidely.

  “I can’t help it. You bring out the worst in me. For the life of me, I wish I would have realized that sooner.”

  Adrienne sat between us watching the angry volley of words. Normally, I’d get a nudge reminding me to tone it down, but she sat quietly with her hand on my thigh.

  I took a sip of my drink, exhaled a long calming breath, then turned back to Carla. “It’s pretty obvious that you’re waiting to turn your Yeti loose on me, so let’s just get to it.”