JENNIE
"So… that's everything." Three enthralled faces stare at me as if disappointed I am about to conclude my story. The only thing I left out was Chahee giving me the Hamptons' Escorts business card but other than that, I've told them the truth about my sexual exploration, my feelings, my struggles, and how Lisa and I fell in love. We came here a little earlier so I would have time to fill them in before Lisa and Lily arrived as I didn't want to talk about Lisa's escort job while she was here.
"Wow." James looks at me pensively. "I had no idea you'd been so sad and lonely. If I'd known, I wouldn't have left."
"That's sweet, but I had to go through this on my own," I say, smiling at him. "It wasn't loneliness that drew me to her, though. If I hadn't met her, I'm pretty sure I'd still be single because I wouldn't have known I liked women."
He nods. "She seems nice."
"She does," Maddie agrees. "And she's kind of…" She hesitates. "Well, I'm not into women but there's something very sexy about her. Do you think she's the one?"
"Yes," I say without hesitation. "I've never felt such an attraction or connection before and I wanted to be entirely honest with you because the truth about her past may come out and there's a chance you might hear something from your friends, if they hear their parents talking about me. I want you to understand."
"I do understand," Ella says, rubbing my arm. "Seeing you two together made total sense last night."
"I kind of understand too." James chuckles. "It just takes time to get used to the idea, that's all."
"Well, I for one think it's cool that I have a lesbian mother-in-law." Maddie slides her plate aside and leans in, crossing her arms over the table. "It makes you more interesting somehow."
I laugh at that and shake my head. "Was I really that boring?"
"Not boring, perhaps just a little uptight," Ella teases. She helps herself to more sparkling water from the bottle, then bites her lip as she looks at me with a grin. "Hey, Mom, can Tyrell come over this week, while James and Maddie are here?"
"Of course, honey." I clap my hands in excitement and kiss her on the cheek. "I can't wait to meet him."
"Does my little sister have a boyfriend?" James asks.
"He's not my boyfriend." Ella rolls her eyes at him. "We're just hanging out."
"They're just hanging out," I repeat with a chuckle.
"Right. Just like Mom and Lisa were 'just hanging out', he says, making quote marks in the air.
Lowering my voice, I say: "He's a rapper. Quite accomplished from what I've heard."
Ella nudges me. "Where did you hear his music?"
"YouTube," I say, innocently batting my lashes. "I found him on your Instagram feed, then looked him up. It wasn't hard, you should really consider changing your privacy settings."
"I did it this morning in case James started snooping, so please keep it to yourself until he meets him."
"Woooow… Ella is dating a rapper!" James regards her curiously. "Is he famous?"
Ella blushes but I know she's secretly enjoying the fact that her new love interest has given her an air of mystery. Having done a little research myself, I've learned that he is, in fact, quite well-known, and that he has a huge fan base. "I'm not going to tell you anything," Ella says cheekily, then waves at Lisa who is walking up to our table with Lily.
"Hey, guys." She smiles at everyone and gives me a kiss. "This is Lily, my daughter."
Lily comes up to me and hugs me. She's delighted to see Ella too and climbs onto her lap, then shyly shakes James and Maddie's hand over the table.
"She'll be talking your head off in no time," Lisa says, shooting Lily a wink. "How are you all feeling today? Hungover?"
"A little rough," James admits. "Too many cocktails perhaps but nothing a good lunch can't fix. How about you?"
"I'm great." Lisa drapes her arm over the backrest of my chair and I lean into her. She looks great too, I think to myself, the white shirt a beautiful contrast with her tanned skin. Her eyes are sparkling and she certainly doesn't look like she's been up all night, but I noticed I had a glow about me too this morning. It must be all the endorphins raging through our system. "Hungry though," she continues. "I heard the food here is fantastic." She doesn't seem uncomfortable here with us and I'm glad she feels she can be herself around my kids.
"Yes, it's very good and they have triple cooked fries." Maddie pours a glass of water for Lisa and hands her a menu. "Jennie was just telling us about how the two of you met."
"Did you tell them everything?" Lisa asks me, a hint of worry flashing through her gaze. She knew James and Maddie would find out one way or another—either from Ella or from one of their friends—but perhaps she hadn't expected me to open up so soon.
"Yes. Everything. At least now we can start with a clean slate." I give her thigh a reassuring squeeze and smile.
"And you guys don't have a problem with it?" Lisa asks, fixing her attention on Maddie and James. She checks if Lily is still distracted with Ella and lowers her voice. "With what I used to do for a living?"
"No. I find it rather an intriguing story and besides, that's your business." Maddie nudges James to speak up too.
"I don't have a problem with it either," he says. "As long as Mom is happy."
"Thank you. That means a lot to me." Lisa pulls me closer and my eyes well up at all the love surrounding me. Resting my head on her shoulder, I hope they know how much I love them in return. As long as Mom is happy.
