A Different Kind of Forever(5)

Emily opened her mouth, realized the trap too late, and shut it again. Clearly torn between feeling grateful at being allowed to go, and being angry at herself for being put in the position of helpmate, she did the smart thing.

“Thanks, Mom.”

“Sure. Now, Meg, do you want to go as well? It’s up to you.”

Megan grinned. “I want to go. It will be so cool, going to the beach every day. Will I have to get a job, too?”

Diane shook her head. “Not unless you want extra pocket money. I’m sure you could baby-sit somewhere down there, right, Kev?”

Kevin nodded, once again amazed at the way Diane danced through the minefield that was their middle daughter. Often, Emily would reduce Diane to tears, but Diane had been prepared for this one, and played it just right.

“Okay, let’s go.” Kevin shouted, clapping his hands together. “Move out the troops.” The girls scampered out as they had done when they were babies, when any trip with their Daddy was an adventure. Kevin kissed Diane on the cheek, and followed the girls out.

The next day, the car wash was cancelled out by a day-long spring downpour, so Diane called Marianne and met her for dinner. Afterwards, they went to the movies, then stopped in to a local pub for a drink. Diane was feeling tired and sipped club soda, while Marianne knocked back a straight scotch and lamented the current state of American cinema. Suddenly, she leaned toward Diane and whispered.

“That man at the bar has been staring at you since we got here. Should we invite him over?”

Diane looked at her friend in surprise. “How do you know he’s not staring at you? You’re taller, thinner, and a lot more gorgeous than I am.”

Marianne raised her eyebrows in exasperation. “Diane, I’m a lesbian, remember?”

“True,” Diane admitted. “But you’re not wearing your ‘Bug Off Creep, I’m A Dyke’ sweatshirt.”

“That man is white. Why would he be staring at me?”

“Because he’s not a racist?”

Marianne sighed. “You are such a Pollyanna, Diane. At times, it’s endearing, but it tends to wear thin. I sometimes wonder how we remain friends.”

“Well for my part, you happen to be very politically correct. So many minorities rolled into one. I don’t have to feel guilty about having so many straight WASP’s for friends with you on the roster. I think you like me because when we’re together you can feel superior without having to be too condescending.”

Marianne lifted her eyebrows and made a polite noise. “You may very well be right. Now, about that nice man-“

“No. Forget it.”

“Why, are you dating anyone?”

Diane shook her head. “Nope. Not this week. How about you? What happened to the travel agent?”

“She was a racist.”

“I thought she was black.”

“She was. She didn’t think I was black enough.”

“Sorry. I liked her.”

“You like everyone. It’s disgusting how nice you are to people. I bet you know the grocery clerks by name.”

“Evelyn, Maggie, Sophia, Lorraine, -“

“Oh, stop it. Now, you’re just showing off. Do you worry about not having someone in your life? At your age?”

Diane shrugged. “I have lots of people in my life, Marianne - you, my kids, my friends, Evelyn, Maggie, Sophia. I don’t have a man in my life, but that’s fine. I’m really very happy, you know that.”

“Yes,” Marianne mused. “You are a very successful single person. That man at the bar also looks very successful. Are you sure?”

Diane gathered her purse. “I’m tired. Doing nothing all day wore me out. Are you ready?”

Marianne drained her glass, and they left. Diane went home, watched TV with Jasper purring on her lap, and fell asleep on the couch. Sunday was another rainy day. She worked on her play, called her mother in Ohio, and napped until the girls came home.



The week began again, and another Tuesday. She ran errands in the morning, the dry cleaners, the library. She decided to treat herself to Moe’s, a small, crowded deli with great sandwiches. Standing in line, she wavered between corned beef and pastrami, but it was Moe himself who made the choice, wincing at her corned beef request. She picked up a cream soda, and then headed out to Bloomfield Park, a large, green oasis. She parked her car and walked toward a picnic table under a barely leafed-out maple tree, next to the duck pond. She was alone in the park except for a man and a dog playing out on the ball field.