“Tash!”
“Hey Sara! How are you? You’re blushing.”
That makes me blush harder and I try to cover my cheeks as Tasha laughs.
“I’m about to go shopping to get me and the boys some new clothes. Do you think you want to come with us?” I ask her, finding the boys and holding onto their hands firmly.
She eagerly agrees and we head out together. Along the way, she fills me in on everything that’s been happening with her and Juliet. I’m so happy for Tasha and am always excited when she pops by the bookstore for a coffee and a chat.
We pick up some nice new clothes for me first, colorful tailored trousers, cute tank tops and a burgundy leather jacket. I hope they’re presentable enough for Lucille’s family.
Next we head to the children’s department and pick out jeans and new shirts for the boys, a new pair of sneakers for Lucas after he ruined his by jumping in puddles, and some special toys and treats for them.
“So something’s happened since you last came by the store,” I say casually to Tasha as we browse the aisles of stuffed animals. I want to casually float the idea that I’m now dating Lucille to see how Tasha reacts. I need to know if my story comes across as believable or if I need to work on it.
“Ooooh, do tell!” Tasha exclaims. She’s not a huge gossip but the “heroic bookstore lesbians” as she has taken to calling us always have dramatic stories to retell to her when she stops by.
“Yeah. So, it’s about me and Lucille.”
It takes a moment for me to notice that she’s no longer browsing with me and has instead stopped in the middle of the aisle and is staring at me with a weird hopeful glee in her eyes. I turn around and pretend to be considering a huge cuddly lion with Liam so that I don’t have to look at her.
“Well we’ve sort of decided to start dating.”
I wait for her to reply, and frown when she’s silent. I turn around again and see her furiously messaging on her cell phone.
“Um, Tasha?” I venture. “Did you hear me?”
She looks up sharply. “Oh! Sorry, yes I heard you, I was telling the others.”
I’m confused. “Telling what others what?”
She rolls her eyes at me and picks a small elephant down off a shelf, handing him to Lucas. “Telling the Lucara group chat what you just told me.”
“What’s Lucara?” Lucas pipes up, cuddly the elephant firmly. I have a feeling we won’t be leaving the store without it.
“Lucille and Sara,” Tasha replies, looking me in the eye.
“You…have a group chat about me and Lucille?” I ask weakly.
“All the girls from the bookstore, me, even Juliet’s joined it now. We’re all extremely excited that you two have finally decided to stop being oblivious and finally get together.”
I’m in shock. I can’t believe all of our friends have a group chat dedicated to discussing whether me and Lucille will get together! They’re all going to be sorely disappointed when this is all over and they find out the truth.
I open my mouth to protest out of instinct, but then quickly stop. They all already believe this is a real thing. Maybe this whole “pretending to be together” lark is going to be easier than I thought.
By the time we’ve paid and left the store, all four of us are weighed down with bags. Lucas is still clutching the elephant, and Tasha’s phone pings constantly as the others respond to her update on me and Lucille.
By the time we get back to the bookstore I find that I’m really enjoying myself. That enjoyment only grows as I spot Lucille waiting outside the entrance of the store.
She’s wearing an expensive leather jacket not unlike the one I bought myself, which makes me more confident that it’s acceptable family-meeting clothing, and is standing beside a large, flashy classic car. She spots us and waves excitedly, her face lighting up. I feel my heart skip a beat and try to rally myself, not noticing Tasha’s proud smirk from beside me.
Eight
Lucille
N erves twist through my stomach as Sara pulls into the parking lot with the boys. Tasha jumps out of the car first and sends a knowing look my direction. She leans her head back into the car and says something to Sara that I can’t quite make out before sending a wave my direction and disappearing inside the bookstore.
Sara gets out of the car and opens the back door. Two identical boys jump out, one after the other. Their hair is the same shade of auburn as Sara’s and I can see more resemblance to Sara in their facial features. If I didn’t know the truth, I would think she was their real mother.