"It will be tomorrow, yes?" Ninny made no attempt to hide tears.
"Not completely." Evelyn tried not to hurt her dearest woman.
"In this case, when? I need to know."
"As you want." Evelyn went to other room and came back. "Here's the pack." She put it on the little table in the corner of the room. "Open it after I'll have left the house tomorrow. But please, know, everything will be all right."
"What's the point, Evelyn?"
"You can't guess, love?"
"Your question seems to be the answer; and you should remember I love you too, very much."
"Until we became so close, I had never thought about a desert island. I know, it's very hard to live there without the most convenient things, but if the island has no animals and dangerous insects, I would agree to spend there a few days."
Ninny understood very clear subtext. "We don't need a real desert island. We have our own version of it which will be ours forever." The woman didn't worry about anything. She needed to tell everything she wanted to be true, and she believed it would be so forever. For a very short time, Ninny's brain let her not think about Evelyn's departure the following day.
"Desert islands aren't full of everything that we have here. What will you say about furniture, for example?"
"At least one of them—called 'bed'— can come in handy now."
"It was just a thought 'what if', but you want to make it real right now?" Evelyn was amazed and happy at the same time.
"The town is called Whistle Stop, and this house—our island—is the best place to stay forever. I don't mean we'll not go outside. We'll stay inside for as long as we can and wish whenever we want."
"Forever," Evelyn repeated very quietly. She knew they were very close to their mutual biggest wish to be reality.
Ninny took Evelyn by hand. "Do you want to know how it feels to be on a desert island when there's nobody except two of us? Go with me, and we'll know every little detail."
Paradise Island is part of The Bahamas situated in Central America. It's not too far from the USA; however being in Alabama it's not easy to reach without a plane.
XXX
Ninny and Evelyn were in Paradise, but they had less than half a day left to spend together.
XXX
"I know, I would better wake up Ninny, but I can't. If I kiss her, I'll cry. I don't want it. I have to be strong for us both. I won't let my dearest person to worry even more.
Before Evelyn left the house, she wrote a note in addition to the pack. "Sorry for not waking you up. Please don't be too sad for the sake of our relationship. Your forever, Evelyn."
XXX
Ninny was about to cry seeing the note, but she managed not to.
"Will Evelyn come back ever? I need her so much. The signature is about us both—we're two parts of a whole. I'm yours forever."
Ninny had read the lyrics a couple of times. She couldn't imagine the song had a hidden message. She was sitting silently for few minutes, thinking what she had read. She could hardly believe that such a song can exist. "María will wait for her Evelyn," she whispered finally.
Yes, Ninny, "Todo malo pasará" (Everything bad will pass). This happy day will come.
XXX
Next day was Monday, the first day of work after vacation.
Evelyn knew very well that her decision is final and nothing and nobody can make her change it.
Except greeting, her first words were, "I want to retire."
The news was shock for everybody. "What had happened? Why?"
"I've found more interesting job. At least, it doesn't require working in the office."
In fact, she hadn't yet had new job. Ninny told about Mary Kay and possibility for her to have pink Cadillac as generous gift for good work. Evelyn didn't care about this particular model of a car, but such job was perfect for her clever plan.
XXX
It was a risqué idea to sell the flat, but it was the only option for Evelyn, and it was a part of the plan.
"Am I going to do this? Yes, sorry love, but you have to wait a few more days. I want it to be your Birthday. I have some wonderful ideas."
XXX
After Evelyn had looked at the calendar, she changed her opinion slightly. "It will be the whole day," she thought.
XXX
Ninny was going home from work. The way wasn't long, and it didn't take much time. When she had reached home, she heard somebody called her by name. She couldn't recognise the stranger's voice. It wasn't similar to any person she knew.
"Who is this?"
"If I use my normal voice?"
"Evelyn? W-what?"
"I'm here."
"I understood it. I have no hope, but thanks for coming back for my Birthday."
Evelyn called Ninny, "Please, darling, come here and look."
"You have two big suitcases? Why do you need so much things for two days?"
"Will you let us go inside? I need to tell you something very private."
Ninny lost control and all the negative thoughts and sadness. They had barely entered the house, but she had already pressed Evelyn against one of the walls and kissed her passionately. "I missed you so much," she told, feeling that Evelyn was much closer—the younger woman embraced her.
"Darling, tell me your biggest wish. Please."
"I don't want you to go," Ninny responded without thinking. It was impossible, right?
"María, I came back to stay forever."
Ninny could cry now. She didn't need to be strong.
"I want you to be happy on your Birthday. How about we'll go to bed after dinner?"
The reaction was a smile. The decision was very good.
XXX
"I wanted to come back as soon as possible, but then I thought about tomorrow and decided my arrival should be today."
"What about your work?"
"Do you remember your advice?"
"Ah, Mary Kay." For a few moments, Ninny let herself to think about happy future. "So you'll never leave me."
"Never, I need you so much."
"Either life is dishonest, or I was so greedy and wanted you by my side forever."
"You're not. You must have whatever is best for you."
"You'll have a pleasant time after dinner."
"Eating with you is wonderful. Even have a possibility looking at you makes me incredibly happy."
Ninny was going to thank Evelyn for every of these words. She was going yo do something special in their bed.
XXX
"Happy Birthday, love." Evelyn stood up especially early to prepare surprise for Ninny. "Sit down."
"A box for me?" She looked at a cartoon box that was put on her lap. There was the inscription on one side, "Dear Ninny."
"Look inside, but be careful."
"Really? You cooked them?" There was a plate full of fried green tomatoes and some of them had a candle. "Thank you so much, love."
Ninny started eating, and soon she almost moaned. It was going to be the best Birthday ever. "Want to try?" She smiled seductively.
Evelyn leaned closer, and Ninny fed her a fried green tomato.
"This is not all. I have something else for you." The younger woman took a paper golden crown and put on Ninny's head. "You are my Queen."
"Thank you, you are too; although I haven't yet made you a crown." Ninny looked at her girlfriend with love. "I think it's the best time to prove my words."
"No, darling, you did a lot yesterday, but I want you just relax and be worshipped like a Queen."
Ninny didn't argue but let Evelyn to undress her to have their own lesbian Paradise for some time.
It was only 11 A.M. of a warm Saturday.
"When your Birthday comes, you'll have greatest day too," Ninny assured.
"I wanted the inscription to be 'My dearest girlfriend', but I thought somebody can see it, and I decided the words to be less personal."
"We live in a small town. Do you think we can hide our relationship for a long time? Do you want it to be a secret?" It sounded like Ninny was going to come out on that day. She could easily tell about them being a lesbian couple.
As for Evelyn, neighbours seemed liberal people who wouldn't hate lesbian couple, so she really didn't mind.
"If you want to tell, I have nothing against it. However, this crown should be only between us. I don't want anybody know."
"They won't, I promise," Ninny assured, kissing Evelyn on the lips. "I can't wait any more. I want you. Such an easy wish should be granted on this special day. It's your time to relax."
XXX
"I know two wonderful words that start with an F each and together mean our future."
"What it is? Tell me, please."
"'Family forever'. On the very first day I couldn't even imagine you would stay until the end of your vacation, but now these two words are all I can think about for us."
XXX
It doesn't matter when and why Ninny and Evelyn met. They proved that something can never end, and nothing to worry about. This is what called "happiness".