Don’t remind me. Sette liked the idea of yachting in theory… but the few times she had gone in her life, including on Zara’s boat, she ended up so green that even the ocean couldn’t out-foam her. The only times Sette got motion sick were when she went out on the water. Flying, driving, roller coasters… those were fine. “What does being a doctor have to do with it?”
June interrupted her. “Casino, huh?” There was something uneasy about her tone. “That would be the first in a long while. Then again, with all you rich kids, I’m surprised it’s taken this long. What was the woman’s name, again?”
Zara gave her a suspicious look. “Miquela something. Bolivar. That’s it. Miquela Bolivar, from Spain. Er, I think. I know it’s Europe. Maybe France? No, it’s Andorra. Wait… what’s that really tiny country by there?”
The smile remained on June’s face, but it was so forced that Sette wondered if she was going to faint. She put her hand on her leg, feeling her cool flesh turn warm beneath her touch.
“Monaco,” June said, hand covering Sette’s. “You’re thinking of Monaco.”
“You know Miquela?”
Nobody could read June’s face if they tried – and Sette did. She tried so hard that she went cross-eyed. “I’ve heard of her.”
She and Zara held their gazes long enough for the waitress to return with tea and water refills. Sette made a note to ask June about this later.Not like I don’t remember a Miquela…Fornow, she was happy to curl her fingers with June’s and think of everything to do that day.
Zara excused herself from lunch on the pretense that she had a family thing later that afternoon. Sette figured she was full of shit, but went along with it, shaking her friend’s hand and wishing her well. When she was alone with June again, she said, “Sorry, my friend’s an ass. Don’t know what’s up with her.”I know.
“Was she? I thought she was charming.” June chuckled, relaxing in her seat again. “You have to understand, my barometer for ‘ass’ is set pretty high. Takes more than a good-looking grump to set me off.”
“Wait, you think she’s good-looking?”
“Don’t you?”
“Never thought about it.” Sette couldn’t say she sat around thinking about which of her friends was the hottest. Sure, Zara was attractive… it wasn’t just her money that got her all those women. “Should we go?”
They had no concrete plans until that evening. Sette figured they could take things slow through the afternoon. Maybe see a film. Go to the park. Shop. Whatever June wanted to do. Yet when Sette asked her what they should do, she simply said, “Anything is fine. I’m just happy to get off the mountain for a while.”
Sette took her hand and led her down the sidewalk. With no destination in mind, they walked slowly, aimlessly, grateful that it was a Thursday and thus there weren’t many people out to get in their way. Sette hated crowds.
“Now that’s a look,” June said, gesturing to her cheek. “What are you thinking about? Artist stuff?”
“Actually, it’s doctor stuff. Had a random memory.”
“About delivering babies?”
“Uh-huh.”
“You know…” June squeezed her hand. “You’re the first obstetrician I’ve met who didn’t make a big deal about the number of lives they’ve brought into this world. I keep forgetting you used to do that.”
“I never brought anyone into this world. That’s all the mothers.”
“I see.”
“I’m serious. My job was to guide and make sure no complications arose. Or if they did, I fixed them. I must’ve done okay, because nobody died on my watch… although I’m sure if I didn’t retire so early, they would have. Nobody’s a doctor for more than ten years without at least one death, no matter what kind they are.”
“Those poor podiatrists.”
Laughing, Sette released June’s hand and snaked an arm around her midsection. “Now, come on, I’m sure that there’s something you want to do, my dear. We have all afternoon to do whatever we want.”
June stopped in front of the next shop. “Buy me some ice cream.”
“You got it.”
It had been a long time since Sette was out on a date like this, and she doubted the last one felt so good. Few women made her feel so comfortable, and June had the magical ability to make her so at ease that she almost made a fool of herself multiple times. Kissing her. Touching her. Tucking stray hairs back into her loose ponytail and straightening out her bag so it fell comfortably at her side. Sette wanted to take care of her. To make June feel as good as she madeherfeel.
When June dripped ice cream on her hand, Sette snatched it and kissed away the vanilla droplets. As she smiled, the elderly woman passing by asked her husband, “Why aren’t you that sweet with me anymore?” He informed her that if he could, hewould cover her in ice cream and lick it all away. They continued down the sidewalk, laughing.
“Now that’s my kind of old couple.” June crunched into her cone. “You ever think about where you’ll be when you’re that age?”
