“That’s when I came out,” she told Debbie. “The hardest thing I’ve ever done, but the most satisfying. I was liberated. I’ve been in a couple of relationships with women, but so far, nothing lasting. Give yourself time to discover who you are. And don’t be afraid of your feelings. This isn’t a perfect world for anyone, including us gays.” She smiled and took Debbie’s hand.
The experience was a revelation. Debbie was sexually satisfied for the first time and began to understand why people chased sex so avidly. Micky was kind, smart, and easygoing. They had a good time until Micky took a position at a hospital in Raleigh, North Carolina. They visited back and forth for a while, but it was hard to go weeks without seeing each other, and the plane fare was expensive. Debbie didn’t want to let go, but when Micky’s schedule changed, and she worked on the weekends, the phone calls became more infrequent. Gradually, they drifted apart. But the connection between them proved to Debbie she preferred women to men. After Micky, she was okay with who she was.
When she finished nursing rotations at Massachusetts General in Boston, she was hired by John Meyer, head of the neurology department at New Haven Medical Center. John had moved his wife, Vicky, and son, Noah, to New Haven three years earlier to put a plan together for the department. He had worked in upper New York State for fifteen years. Each of his neurologists would have a team: neurosurgical nurse, psychologist, and physical therapist. Debbie was his first hire for his team.
A nurse, Lisa Hendrix, started working in the ICU at New Haven about four years after Debbie was employed. Lisa was slim and quick-moving, with a warm smile, light blue-green eyes, and strawberry blonde hair so fine and straight it fell out of any clip she used to restrain it. Sometimes she reminded Debbie of a heron, sometimes of a Siamese cat—she had a grace and ease in her body that was immediately appealing.
Debbie worked many hours in the ICU, and they clicked immediately. It was well known that Debbie was gay. Debbie and Lisa went out together a lot after Lisa first arrived in New Haven. Although Debbie was attracted to Lisa, it was quite apparent Lisa was heterosexual. She was always talking about men she was dating. Then there was only one man, and after two years he asked her to marry him. Debbie was happy for her friend—though a little wistful—and vowed to help her in any way she could to make her special day the greatest it could be.
The wedding would be a small affair in a park. Only a picnic table would be needed for the cake and drinks. There was no need for chairs; the guests would stand and afterward mingle on the lawns. Debbie helped Lisa pick out her white summer dress, flowers, and cake. The special day would be simple but beautiful.
Since Lisa’s apartment lease was up a month before the wedding, Debbie invited her to live in her apartment until she was married.
“Hey, Leesy, are you about ready? We’re going to be late for work,” Debbie yelled down the apartment hall.
“Coming,” Lisa shouted back. When she got to the kitchen, she let out a huff.
“What’s wrong?”
“Curtis! He keeps telling me he’s found an apartment and the next thing I know, he says it was taken by someone else. He’d better get his act together, or we’re going to have to live in the hostel where he lives.”
Curtis Langley was a bartender in an upscale bar in Boston. He’d been a drifter most of his adult life. He fell in love in high school and wanted to marry the woman of his dreams. But her parents made it difficult for them to get married, so he left town, never finding stability.
There were only two weeks left until the wedding. “Lisa, you guys can move in here if you have to for a month or two.”
“Hahaha,” Lisa laughed on their way to the car. “I think it would drive you crazy having a man in your house.”
Debbie thought she was right, but she’d do it anyway.
Debbie planned a bachelorette party at the New Haven Hotel restaurant for the night before the wedding. Six other nurses were there, all bearing gifts for the new bride-to-be. They were laughing and talking when the waiter walked to the table and announced there was a call for a Ms. Hendrix at the hostess stand. Lisa got up and gave Debbie a puzzled look. “Probably my mom making sure I don’t get drunk tonight.”
All the ladies laughed, and she went to take her call. After a few minutes, Debbie looked up and saw Lisa crying into her hand at the stand. “I’ll be right back.”
“Lisa, what is it?”
“He called off the wedding. He said he can’t marry me because…” She wept. “Because the woman of his dreams just walked back into his life. He had always loved her and always will. Ahh, ahh, ahh.”
Debbie pulled her into her arms. “Come on, let’s get out of here. I’ll tell everyone at the table what’s going on and meet you at the car.” She hugged her tight, fiercely angry at Curtis, yet also relieved.
After she explained the problem, all the friends said they would help call the guests and tell them the wedding was off. Debbie went to be with Lisa.
She cried and cried, cussing him out for stringing her along for such a long time. “I should
