Her dad smiled. “That’s wonderful. I can tell by the look on your face that things are going well. Maybe I’ll get to meet him sometime?”
“Oh ...”Him.Her dad assumed she was dating a man. She remembered the haunted look in Marin’s eyes after she’d left Nancy’s house. Charlotte wasn’t prepared to lose her dad, not yet, not so soon after mending their relationship. “Um, maybe. Things are still pretty new.”
Shame rose in her chest, and just like that, her eyes welled with tears all over again. She was a coward for not using this opportunity to tell him about Marin. After everything she’d put herself through to reach this point in her life, Marin deserved so much better.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Over the next few weeks, Marin and Charlotte settled into their new relationship. They spent plenty of time together at home, but they also went snow tubing and took a pottery class at the community center, taught by Audrey. They did all the couply things Marin had been yearning for, although they couldn’t acknowledge that they were a couple when they were in public since Charlotte wasn’t out yet.
And that was fine. Marin would give her all the time she needed. She was happy,trulyhappy, maybe for the first time in her life. Sure, she’d been reasonably content since the divorce as she made strides in her new life, but there’d always been a missing piece, a yearning she’d known wouldn’t be satisfied until she found a life partner.
She’d never dared hope that person would be Charlotte. Nor had she imagined herself as the more “experienced” person in her first sapphic relationship, but actually, she loved helping to guide Charlotte through her sexual awakening. Marin hadn’t had many opportunities in her life to provide guidance or nurturing. Now she found herself in that role not only with Charlotte but also in raising Ember and mentoring students on campus. It was incredibly gratifying.
As March became April, the snow finally melted, and the trees began to bud. Spring had officially arrived, although spring in Vermont also meant mud. Ember got into endless messy situations outside. Marin had to wipe her down multiple times a day, but she didn’t really mind, because she loved her puppysomuch.
Not that Ember looked much like a puppy these days. Gone was the tiny runt of the litter Marin had brought home back in January. Ember was big now, full of energy but also settling nicely into adolescence.
There was still one thing weighing Marin down, though, and that was Nancy’s rejection. The sibling group chat had proceeded as usual, but Marin couldn’t help noticing how superficial it had gotten, as if Jed, Fran, and Tom were all waiting for Nancy and Marin to patch things up. If only Marin knew how ...
She strolled through the campus quad, enjoying the daffodils and crocuses as they bloomed along the sidewalks. It was the second week in April, and her weather app was calling for heavy rain later this evening, but right now, it was a perfect spring afternoon.
She and Charlotte were going on a double date tonight with Audrey and Michelle, and Marin could hardly wait. She walked faster, impatient to get home, even though she had plenty of time before she needed to start getting ready.
“Professor Easterly!”
She turned to find Brianna on the sidewalk behind her. “Hi, Brianna. How are you?”
“I’m good.” There was a bounce to Brianna’s step that hadn’t been there when Marin first talked to her over the winter, and she was so glad to see it. “I was actually planning to stop by your office soon to tell you, but I did come out to my best friend, and she’s been great about it.”
“That’s wonderful,” Marin exclaimed.
“Yeah. So far I’m only out to her, but that feels okay for now. I can swoon over the cute girls in the TV shows that we watch together, andshe points out girls on campus that she thinks I might like.” Brianna grinned. “I feel likemewhen I’m around her.”
“I’m so glad.” Marin was so proud of Brianna, and happy for her. “I’ve been thinking about you and hoping you were doing okay.”
“Yeah. Sorry for being so dramatic before.” Brianna rolled her eyes, and Marin chuckled. “I was in such a rush to come out to my parents, but you were right ... I’ve got time.”
“You do,” Marin said. “You’ve got plenty of time, but I’m really glad you have someone you can be yourself with now. That’s a great feeling, isn’t it?”
“Yeah, it is.” Brianna’s smile was luminous. “Anyway, I just wanted to say thanks. See you at the next Pride Coalition meeting?”
“Yes,” Marin said. “See you there.”
Marin walked to her car with a newfound bounce in her step. At home, she fed and walked Ember, then changed from her work clothes into date-night attire. She decided on fitted black slacks and a royal blue top. By the time she’d finished getting ready, it was almost time for Charlotte to pick her up. They were meeting Audrey and Michelle at a new restaurant in town, and everything about the evening promised to be wonderful.
Her phone rang, and Marin rushed to find it, hoping nothing had come up with dinner, but it was her niece Jen’s name on the screen. Marin’s chest tightened. She hadn’t talked to Jen since her falling-out with Nancy, unsure what to say or how Jen felt about the whole thing, which was probably cowardly of her in hindsight. “Jen, hi.”
“So I just came from Mom and Dad’s house,” Jen said, sounding pissed, and Marin sat abruptly on her bed. “Dad finally clued me in about what’s been going on between you two, and first of all, I gave Mom a huge piece of my mind over how homophobic she’s being, but secondly, why didn’t you tell me, Aunt Marin?”
The hurt in her voice was unmistakable, and Marin’s stomach plummeted. “I’m sorry. I should have. I guess ... coming out to mysiblings felt like all I could handle, and I figured I’d let them tell the rest of the family.”
“But you and I are close,” Jen protested. “We’ve chatted so much since you adopted Ember. You didn’t think I’m a homophobic asshole, too, did you?”
“No.” Although the truth was, she hadn’t been sure. Maybe she’d been afraid to find out, afraid of losing Jen too.
“Well, I’m a little pissed at you for not telling me, but also really proud of you for living your truth. Are you seeing anyone?”
“I am,” Marin admitted with a smile. “Things are going really well. I’m ... happy.”
