Serena let out a breath. “True, true, and that would mean that people who get pregnant in relationships would suddenly change their minds about their partners,” she said slowly.
“Exactly,” Hanna said. “So no, one of the side effects will not be that you lose interest in your boyfriend. If that happens, it’s one hundred percent not the pill.”
“Okay, okay,” Serena said, laughing. Her brow furrowed as if she was just realizing something. “Wait–you have two girlfriends?”
Hanna had to be careful about this information because she knew poly relationships weren’t always understood, but she had promised herself that she’d always be open with the patients. “Yes, I’m bisexual and fell in love with two of the best women,” Hanna said proudly.
Serena’s face turned serious as she pondered the information, and then she grinned. “Yikes, the spend on tampons monthly,” she said, and then more seriously added, “Sounds fun though, getting to go home with two women.”
“It is great, no one ever falls into the toilet,” Hanna joked, because there was so much more to it than that.
Serena smile widened and she said, “Well, thank you so much, sorry that I held you?—”
“Never be sorry! I love my job, and this is what I’m here for.” And it was true, Hanna knew she had made the right choice in holding off on going to medical school and working as a PatientAdvocate. It was helping her figure out the best path forhowto serve these communities.
She said goodbye to Serena and then locked up, navigating to her car through the “you’re going to hell” rants of the “pro-life” protestors. She went to plug in her phone when she saw that Maya and Lily had been texting. The last two messages showed a preview.
Papaya Maya: HANNA BRING WINE.
Papaya Maya: HANNA OUR MOMS ARE BANGING.
42
LILY
Hanna Banana
Sorry I got pulled into another crisis, heading to grab wine and then home to you both. See you in 30!
Okay sorry are we drinking red or white? I know its fall and everything but…???
Nothing like texting with myself to spike my anxiety….
Well shit.
You know what? I’m getting both.
Lily heard the front door unlock as Hanna made her way inside. She heard it because the apartment was open-concept– a lofty, warehouse-style that Lily thoughtresembled some of her acquaintances’ places in Brooklyn more than Providence—and even if it hadn’t been, it was otherwise silent.
Maya and Lily sat on the couch in the living room, just past the small front foyer. They’d been sitting there, stunned. Maya had gotten home about twenty minutes before Hanna. Lily had been in the third bedroom she had turned into a studio of sorts, working on some freelance graphic work, but she went immediately to meet Maya in the living room.
Since moving into their apartment, they had worked to make the space fit for each of them, to make it a safe space, to make it a home. There were three bedrooms, though they only used one as such, making the other two workspaces for Maya’s schoolwork and writing, Lily’s art, and Hanna’s work. While the space was fairly raw and open, they’d warmed it up with plenty of color: teals, mauves (namely a large mauve couch Mayahad to have), and yellows, and some ceramic pieces of Lily’s. Some were purely for aesthetic, but some functional, like the custom mugs she made for each of them to have their morning coffee together. While Lily would likely never be a morning person, it was the time of day they dedicated to justthem,before the day spun off into school and work.
Lily had known what Maya had discovered on her latest phone call with her mother. It was the same thing she’d discovered perhaps a half hour earlier than Maya: Diana and Maggie weredating.Not just dating; her mother had told her it was serious, that there was some convoluted back story they could discuss next week when they went to the orchard for Thanksgiving—where Diana and Maggie would be hosting.Together.
Maggie hadn’t officially moved in, but she might as well have, according to her mom, who then swore her to secrecy. In the midst of Lily’s shutting down to process, she had toldher mother that would be impossible. She, Maya, and Hanna were completely open with each other and something like this would’ve killed Lily to sit on. So Diana must have told Maggie and Maggie called Maya. Afterwards, Maya had found Lily and shouted in disbelief, the two of them then laughed hysterically till they melted into a silence that was equal parts shock and needing Hanna.
“I got wine, both red and white!” Lily heard Hanna shout, followed by rustling as she removed her shoes and coat. Hanna walked towards them and dropped a cloth shopping bag in between them.
“I am going to assume you meant Diana and Maggie, and not Diana, Maggie, and Mary,” Hanna said, looking down at them.
“Hanna,” was all Lily could get out.
“Somehow, though, I am not sure if that’s better or worse,” Maya said.
Hanna bent down and kissed the top of Lily’s forehead and then pulled back and said, “I will be back for both of you, I am going to get glasses.”
“Just bring jars,” Lily said. They were about to get sloppy, and she had no desire to have to clean up glass. Their everyday glasses were surplus canning jars from the Blakes, and now they made a much safer choice.
