LILY
“So you think your mom has a secret lover?” Lily asked, grabbing three ciders from the cooler. She loved it when Hanna and Maya came over and they all piled into the treehouse. She looked over at her lovers, already nestled in the bed. The sun hung low in the sky, bathing the room in a fiery orange hue. They’d attempted to build a fort like they had back at the retreat, but it failed spectacularly, so now Hanna and Maya were just wrapped in a ton of blankets. Lily walked over and cuddled in between them, handing each a cider.
“I don’t know, but for the last week or so since I caught her in the kitchen, she has definitely been hiding something. It’s like she’s happier, so I don’t get why she is hiding her happiness? Maybe she thinks I won’t like her moving on from my dad,” Maya said, taking a sip, “which is crazy because I told you both I definitely heard someone at my dad’s new place the last time we spoke.”
“Maybe she’s part of some secret drug ring or something far worse than love,” Lily joked, turning her head towards Maya and relishing the brush of her curls on her face.
“Honestly that might be more likely than the lover, and well, she didn’t make out well from the divorce. She was a stay-at-home mom, so not a lot saved up.”
“Prenups man,” Hanna said. “I believe in them strongly.” They all clinked their bottles of cider and then drank.
Lily took a moment to really soak up the evening. They’d been spending many of them together, and if they were a precursor to what she had waiting for her in Providence, she was excited.
“It’s your money, use it how you want, I trust you,” her mother had said when she told her she was moving to Providence with friends. “So you’re moving with…”
Lily knew Diana hadn’t heard her talk about other friends, certainly not ones that she felt close enough with to move in with. After Lily offered up no additional information, her mother just shook her blonde head and said, “Well, it will be good for you to get some time to yourself before this is all yours–” She paused again. “If you want it that is. I can always speak to Julia?—”
“No, I do,” Lily had said, and it was true. She had always accepted that she’d take over the family orchard. She had previously seen it as a way to keep working on her art without worry. It was a privilege, she knew, but now she saw it as a vital way to help her support Hanna and Maya. She knew Hanna and Maya didn’tneedher to, but still, she had the means and she loved them.
The thought had brought her up short then, but sitting in the blankets snuggled between them now, she knew it was true. She just had to figure out how to tell them, how to say it out loud without the fear that this was just some kind of thrill for them.
“How are things with your parents, Banana?” Lily turned to Hanna, who shrugged at her question.
“I mean, they’re great, same as they’ve always been. Though I’m not sure how crazy my mom is about me coming over here.”
“Is she afraid I'm corrupting you?” Lily teased.
“Hmmm maybe. But, I don’t know, sometimes I just want to scream when I’m home.”
But Lily thought she knew. Hanna was so stuck on not being a disappointment to them that she continued to be the daughter she thought they wanted, rather than just doing whatshewanted. Having spent time around Hanna’s folks, Lily felt like it might be something Hanna felt more than her parents.
“Either way,” said Hanna, “I am totally coming out to them before the summer is over. Thanks for being so patient, you two, I know keeping this from your moms isn’t easy, especially with them having known each other and all.”
“No biggie Banana,” Lily said and raised up on her elbows to kiss Hanna on her forehead.
“I think we both know how weird it can be,” Maya added, and she turned her body so she was completely spooning Lily, who was curved towards Hanna. Hanna was flat on her back, looking up at them with dark brown eyes full of uncertainty.
“How did your parents take it?” Hanna asked.
“I don’t really know,” Maya began. “I just kind of told them who I was into from time to time and sometimes that person was a chick. Not to mention I’ve lusted after Janelle Monae for years.”
“Ooof seriously,” Lily said, “why are non-binary folks always so hot?”
“Because they’ve ascended beyond whatever boxes we keep putting ourselves in,” Maya said.
“True dat,” said Lily.
“And they never said anything?” Hanna asked, bringing the seriousness back into the conversation.
“Well, I don’t think my dad ever would care about something like that, and my mom– well, she never said anything, but I don’t know that I really gave either of them space to,” Maya said thoughtfully.
“Lily?”
“Yeah, well my dad never gave a fuck obviously, but Diana definitely doesn’t care. And Aunt Julia is a proud lesbian. Took me out for cake and ice cream when I came out during a family dinner.”
Maya laughed, “Nice.”
“It was,” mused Lily.
