Gail had only been talking to Andy for a few seconds, when she felt the absence of her soon-to-be wife.
"Where'd Holly go?" she asked Andy.
Andy laughed and wiggled a finger at a slightly inebriated Holly banging a beer bottle on the center table.
"Hey, hey, hey," Holly shouted over the party. After the people had quieted, she tipped her drink at them. "Thanks for coming. Gail and I are so happy that we've got such great friends. Right, babe?"
Gail just nodded, just a little worried about what might come out since Holly had had a few.
"And all of you have had such beautiful things to say about us," Holly smiled. "And that's great."
A round of applause started and settled.
"But," Holly said, "I've heard the phrase, 'then Gail met Holly' several times tonight. And I'm so thankful that she did. And I'm glad that you all think that we belong together and all of that stuff…but few of you know who I was before Gail."
Gail sat back in her chair, dying to hear what Holly would say next.
"I was a workaholic. I hadn't had a vacation in years. I'd published seven articles in six months because I had no life. I was a nerd. Gail likes to point out that I still am, but then I was a bored, unhappy nerd," Holly explained. "And then this woman with all this huge intensity and humor and determination just fell into my life and I was immediately smitten." She locked eyes with Gail, "I may have been in love by the end of the first day…"
"I mean I hate people," Gail said as she slipped on her coat and headed for the exit.
Holly couldn't help but grin at her. She certainly was interesting.
"You hate people?" Holly asked. "That can't be conducive to your chosen profession."
Gail looked her over as she punched the elevator button, "Most people. Some people are okay. Like small children…quiet ones."
"That's a very small part of the population, Officer."
"People that don't annoy me," Gail said as the car stopped and the doors opened. "And don't smell like a lab rat. That's the first requirement, actually."
Holly sniffed herself, "It's been worse."
"I wouldn't admit that." Gail stepped in the elevator and punched the the light for the first floor, "One?"
"Yep."
They rode down in silence until Gail chanced a look, "So what do lesbian dead people doctors do for fun at the end of the day?"
"Go home, have a drink, and catch the end of the Jays game before bed," Holly answered truthfully.
"Wow," Gail rolled her eyes. "Slow down, there."
"I never said it was exciting," Holly told her.
When the elevator came to a stop, Gail exited hastily. She walked ahead toward the glass doors of the building, but then held the door for Holly. "We all usually go down to this bar, The Penny. You ever heard of it?"
"Sure," Holly nodded. "I've heard it mentioned before, never been."
"You should," Gail said. "Drop in sometime. Company's kind of shit, but drinks are cheap."
"Maybe I will."
"Yeah?" Gail smiled at that. She stopped suddenly, "Hey, you have your phone on you?"
Holly reached in her pocket and handed it over without question. Gail typed in her number quickly and handed it back.
"In case you ever want to go," Gail said. "You can call…or text me. I'm under Peck in there. That's me."
Holly nearly laughed, "I remember. How could I forget?"
"You won't," Gail said confidently. "I'm there a lot of nights, though. So…"
"Okay," Holly said, slipping the phone back in her pocket. She hooked her thumb behind her, "Car's that way."
"Yeah, yeah," Gail nodded. She pointed to her squad car that was parked in front, "I'm here."
"It was an interesting day, Officer…Peck," Holly called as she walked away.
"Never a dull moment with me, Doctor," Gail replied.
"Hasn't been a dull moment yet," Holly said. "Not with Gail. She's the kind of woman that cuts you very little slack and calls you on your shit. She's tough in just about every way you can be. She's not afraid of many things or places. All that is true about Gail," Holly said. "But she's also the woman that still celebrates our monthly anniversaries even though we've graduated to years now. She lets me read my journal articles to her even though she couldn't care less. She'll even go catch a Jays game with me even though she just learned a few nights ago that hitting for the cycle does not mean starting your period."
"That one is very confusing," Gail complained.
"So, I've probably taught her a few things about medical jurisprudence. She's definitely picked up a few baseball terms. She swears that she's caught on to lesbian connectivity," Holly smiled. "But, in return for all that, she's taught me about love. And courage. And second chances. So…here's to the woman that will be my wife in less than two weeks. I hope I make you as happy as you've already made me."
