it easier. Tammy hadn’t done anything dramatic, she had just told the truth, which was dramatic enough in her case. Her siblings had made life changing alterations, and changed directions completely. Tammy was still quietly and sanely on her familiar path. And Stacey was a sensible intelligent woman. She was sure her mother would see it the minute they met.
She told Stacey about the meeting when she got home from work that night. She was instantly panicked.
“Oh God…oh no…so fast? Maybe we should wait. Maybe I should take a Xanax when we go up there. Or have a drink before we go.”
“Oh great. If you walk in like a zombie, or show up drunk, I know she’ll love you. Just be yourself. I told her how terrific you are. She knows I love you. All you have to do is meet her now, and we can relax after that.”
“Beware of what you wish for. I’ve waited seven years for this, now it seems like a terrible idea. What if she hates me? What then?”
“Then I dump you and find someone else she’ll like better, or maybe I stop being gay?” Tammy suggested and Stacey laughed.
“Okay, okay. But should I try to wear one of your dresses?”
“Only if you want her to fall down laughing when we come through the door. I don’t know how you do it, but you can take a Chanel dress and make it look ridiculous. Just wear jeans, my mom probably will. I’m not getting dressed up.”
“She knows you, you don’t have to prove anything,” she said miserably.
“Neither do you, you’ve already got everything it takes to impress her. We’re on your side.”
“You don’t understand. This is like meeting your future mother-in-law, only much, much worse. What if she thinks I’m gay?” Stacey said, starting to relax, with Tammy’s encouragement.
“She won’t, she never thought I was. Why would she think that about you? Are you, by the way?” Tammy was laughing, and Stacey grinned in spite of herself.
“Of course not, I’m straight all the way. Why would you say something like that?”
“Just a rumor I heard, something about your shoes.”
“Will she think I’m weird for wearing men’s shoes?” She stared at her feet and then at Tammy.
“Let me clue you in. She knows you’re gay, you can go dressed as GI Joe if you want.”
“One of my five-year-old patients asked me the other day if I was wearing my daddy’s shoes.” She smiled and Tammy laughed.
“Smart kid. Very strong gaydar for a five-year-old. I wonder how my brother is doing. I haven’t heard from him since Mom’s birthday dinner. I sent him a couple of texts today, saying I hope he’s okay, and I haven’t heard back.”
“He’s probably hiding out somewhere,” Stacey suggested.
“My mother said something about his meeting someone a while ago, and it threw him. I wonder if he’s with her.”
“That would be pretty fast, but you never know. Maybe that’s what gave him the courage to break up with his fiancée.”
“He needs time to figure out what happened,” Tammy said thoughtfully, “and how he got so far down the road with the wrong woman.”
“That’s easy to do sometimes.” Tammy knew Stacey had spent ten years with a sociopath before leaving her and meeting Tammy. She was a doctor too, and totally insane. And then Stacey met Tammy six months after they broke up. “Some relationships are so right on paper that you talk yourself into them. I did that with Mercedes. Two doctors, how perfect—only one of us was nuts.”
“Amanda’s not nuts, but she and my brother had nothing in common. My grandmother and sister were right on that. My mom got caught up in all the fancy social bullshit and thought it would be good for him and civilize him. My brother’s a sweet guy, but he’s always going to be a geek and an artist at heart. I hope the next woman is the right one for him. He deserves it. At least I don’t have to worry about what to wear to the wedding. We could have worn matching tuxedos. We have a great one at Chanel this season.” Tammy laughed.
“I wouldn’t have been invited,” Stacey said.
“You will be from now on,” Tammy said gently. “I’m not going out without you anymore. That’s over.” Stacey looked touched.
“You get a pass for fashion events, though. I couldn’t handle it.” She rolled her eyes and Tammy laughed. It was a whole new day for them.
* * *
—
As it turned