“That’s Great-Grandma’s wedding ring,” I said in awe.
“It is,” she agreed, lovingly tracing her finger over the top. “This ring means the world to me, and I want you to have it. More importantly, I want you to give it to Maegan when you feel the time is right.”
“Mom,” I said in awe. I’d asked her if I could give it to Brandy, but she’d gently told me no. Here she was offering the precious ring so Maegan could wear it someday. “She’s going to cherish this ring.”
“I mostly care that she cherishes you.”
“She truly does, Mom.”
After we finished cleaning, it was time to head home. I couldn’t say all of my hurt was gone after one visit with my dad, but I could say his apology went a long way to healing the pain I’d felt. We promised to return soon for another visit, and Mom assured me she’d keep me updated on how surgery went.
During the trip home, I had a ring in my pocket and a burning question on my mind. I just needed to find an occasion worthy of the woman who would wear the ring.
“GIRL, GET IN HERE,”APRILsaid when she opened her front door. “It feels like I haven’t seen you in ages.” It was her turn to host our weekly Tuesday night book club meeting.
“It’s only been a few weeks, but it has seemed longer.” I hugged April and noticed she held onto me a little longer than normal. She felt thinner and her long, dark hair didn’t seem as lustrous. “I—we all—missed you.” I exchanged a worried glance with Vanessa, who’d arrived before me. April smiled like she wanted to believe it, but I could tell she wasn’t sure. Things between her and Violet were still a little strained, and I hated the heartache it caused them. “One of us missed you more than the rest and took your absence personally.”
April’s poor attempt at a smile slid off her face, making me want to kick myself. “I’ve tried, Mae. God knows how hard I’ve tried to fix things between us, but I can’t reach her. I fucked up so bad.”
“Honey, she just needs more time.” I didn’t know that for sure, but I hoped Violet would come around. I pulled April back in my arms and hugged her tight.
“I didn’t want to be an experiment to her, Mae. That happens so much. You hear women say all the time that they’ve given up on men and think they’ll give women a try. It’s so fucking insulting. I didn’t know she was serious. Fuck, if I knew…”
“You’d have done what?” asked a voice from the door. Violet stood in the open doorway with a bottle of wine in her hand. “You’d have taken me up on my offer?”
“Violet,” April said softly. “I didn’t think you’d come tonight.”
“That makes two of us,” she replied sharply. “Now I wish I hadn’t.” Violet turned to leave.
“Don’t go, Vi,” April said. “Please stay. I—”
“Are you done insulting my intelligence?”
“What? When?”
“Just now when you told Maegan you thought I hit on you because I was done with men. I knew what I wanted, and I wanted you, April.”
“I didn’t mean to—”
“And the comments you’ve made in the past about the alcohol,” Violet said, cutting her off again. “Do you really think alcohol makes people do something they don’t really want to do? Did you ever think that bottle of wine loosened up my inhibitions so I would take a chance and go after what I wanted? It’s called liquid courage for a reason.”
“Put yourself in my shoes, Vi,” April said pleadingly. “I have loved you since I knew what romantic love was, and it took you getting drunk to tell me you were attracted to me. Can you possibly understand that I was hurt too?”
“Ladies,” Candace said, entering the room. “Not this same old argument again. Fuck and forgive already.” She looked April up and down then rubbed her forefinger over an artfully, arched brow that was the exact same shade of red as her long, wavy hair. “I’m so glad you dressed for company. I think you owned those yoga pants back in junior high. I know for a fact you got your New Kids on The Block T-shirt back then.”
The T-shirt was baggy on her because she’d lost a lot of weight since we were kids. She’d also grown taller so the shirt now hovered just above her belly button. Violet seemed to have a hard time looking away from the strip of exposed skin that included a pierced belly button. The feminine, crystal hearts dangling from the belly button ring reflected prisms of light onto April’s skin. It looked like she had mini disco balls dangling above her—
“Pizza is on the way,” April said, steering the conversation back to where she wanted it to go. She closed the door and turned to face us. “I ordered everyone’s favorite pizza or sandwich, including yours, Vi, because I hoped you would come.”
Candace snorted because her mind had gone straight to the gutter. I glanced up at Vanessa who was doing her damnedest not to grin. She failed epically and started laughing hard enough that she had to lean against me for support.
April walked slowly toward Violet. She took the bottle of wine from Vi with her left hand then cupped Vi’s face softly with the right. “I am sorry, Vi. You’re the last person on the earth I’d hurt.” She pressed in slow, giving Violet time to back away or meet her halfway. Instead of kissing her, April rubbed the tip of her nose against Violet’s. When she stepped back, Violet looked glassy-eyed and dazed.
“Holy fuck,” Candace said breathlessly. “Our girl has serious game.”
“That’s nothing,” April said smugly. “The rest is for a private audience only.”
“What’s more private than your own living room?” Vanessa asked.
