down woke him up. “Aw, I’m sorry, honey. Go back to sleep.”
“Don’t leave.”
“I’m going to get into the shower,” she said, doing a little bump and grind at the side of the couch. “Want to join me?”
Throwing the afghan aside, he sprang up and grabbed her in a bear hug. “Show me the way!”
Chapter 5
“Okay, close your eyes, and don’t peek now!” Samantha said, holding a handkerchief over Alison’s eyes.
They were standing in the foyer of the Majestic, the fanciest restaurant that had a last-minute opening for a bridal shower. Clueless up until that moment, Alison seethed. “I hope this isn’t what I think it is.”
“Smile!” Samantha demanded.
Suzette Mortimer told the group, “Everyone shout surprise when she walks through. Okay? One, two, three!”
Samantha slowly pushed Alison through the door as the bridal shower guests shouted in unison, “Surprise!”
Alison opened her eyes, and at first, it didn’t register. The sea of faces represented so much of her life for the past ten years: her old college roommates, Laura Long and Joan Greenway along with Samantha at her side. All of her cousins’ wives and girlfriends and her aunts, especially Aunt Roberta, were smiling at her.
And her new friends from UCSD Medical, Violet the resident, the nurse and tech she worked with every day, Kendra and Sarah. Barry Lemon’s wife, Carol, had come, as well. Familiar faces, friendly faces.
Even Kathy, Rich’s ex-wife, was there, sitting at the table Suzette and Lisa would be at if they ever sat down, and when Alison saw her, she smiled and waved, laughing. They had developed that kind of friendly relationship.
“I can’t believe this,” Alison muttered to Samantha. “I should kill you.”
“Ha! Wait till you see the gifts,” she whispered. “Yikes! Everything, and I mean everything you registered for. The only thing left is that fancy ass-washing toilet for two grand.”
“Oh my god, Rich picked that out,” Alison said, guffawing. “How embarrassing.”
The next two hours went by in a whirlwind. After she opened the plethora of gifts, Alison went from person to person during the luncheon, wanting to connect with her cousins and aunts, spending time with Kathy, thanking her for coming, until Suzette insisted Alison sit down and eat something before she dropped.
“Come, sit,” she said. “You’ve been wonderful visiting everyone, but now it’s your turn.”
Her future mother-in-law led her over to the table where Lisa waited with a plate of food. Her daughter ate like a truck driver, but lately she was looking a little thin and haggard, and Lisa was worried about her.
“You need to keep up your strength,” she said. “Sit and eat with me.”
“I am tired. Last week they kicked our asses at work,” Alison said, tasting a sandwich. “This is good. Thank you.”
“Can you believe it? You’re walking down the aisle in two weeks! You really pulled it off, too. I was worried we wouldn’t find anyplace to have the reception.”
“You’re not disappointed that it’s at the firehouse, are you, Mom?”
“No, it’s fine. It means something to your father, too, and that makes me happy. But, Alison, his ex-wife isn’t coming to the wedding, is she?”
“No, she’s busy that weekend. I know it’s a little weird, but I really like her. She’s not jealous at all. Well, since she’s the one who ended their marriage, she wouldn’t really have a reason to be jealous, would she? Plus she’s an OR nurse. She knows all the players. She’s the mother of Rich’s kid, and Mike loves me, and Kathy trusts me with him. I’m actually a little disappointed she won’t be able to come.”
Lisa patted her hand. “Dear, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make you feel like you had to defend your relationship with her. You’re making a success of your life, so who am I to judge you?”
“Were you judging me?”
“I might have been. I feel like the older I’m getting, the less my filter is working. Please forgive me.”
“You’re my mom. There’s nothing to forgive. I want this to be over though. How long do we have to keep at it?”
“Let me ask Suzette. Believe it or not, she sort of took over. It wasn’t really a problem for me, either. ‘Let go and let God,’ she said.”
They grabbed each other’s hands and giggled together. “She accepts me, Mom. I might be the only transgender person she knows, and she’s my new champion. Rich’s dad said woe to anyone who dared to make a negative comment about an LGBTQ person at church in her presence.”
Lisa Saint got up