“Nice setup,” Debbie said, walking up next to him after filling a glass with some ice.
“What do you mean?”
“Having Kensy just happen to be in front of me in the food line.”
He looked at her, puzzled. “Kensy! She’s a nice woman. She and Jessica really hit it off at the children’s choir practices. What kind of setup?”
“Robert, she’s a lesbian. I know you wanted her to sway me to go to church.”
“Kensy’s gay? Huh, I didn’t know.”
“Come on, Robert!”
“Debbie, I don’t care about any of that. She’s a great person, and so are you.” He took the drinks to the table.
The next week Debbie and Micky tried to communicate, but Micky was on a three-day shift, so they just passed a few short texts back and forth.
Debbie decided she would go to the bowling party. She was just about to walk out the door when Micky called.
“Deb, let’s meet for dinner.”
“I can’t. I’m going bowling tonight.”
“Well, don’t you have the social life.”
“Come on, Micky. It’s with a few ladies I met at the potluck Saturday night. I never know when you’re going to be available. And when we make plans, you change them.”
“Bunny, are you brushing me off? Are these ladies lesbian?”
“Not that it matters, but yes, the one I’m going to the party with is.”
“Fine. Have a great time.” Micky hung up just as Debbie heard a car honk.
That night changed Debbie’s life. She had so much fun at the bowling alley, and then several of them went to the town square for dessert. They laughed at each other’s stories, talked about their jobs, and planned to get together again soon. Some of the gals played tennis at the country club and wanted Debbie to play with them. She had played a lot of tennis and volleyball in high school and college but not since. They didn’t care. They told her to just come; it was a fun group of women.
The next Sunday the whole household went to the late church service.
Chapter 13—Families
Although Debbie’s tennis was a bit rusty, it took her no time to get back in good form. Kensy’s doubles partner had retired from playing. It was a natural for Debbie and Kensy to partner up.
Many summer evenings the whole family was at the club either playing tennis, golf, or eating dinner. They had all made many friends.
“Come on, Jessie, you’re going to be late for choir practice,” Aly yelled down the hall to their bedrooms.
“And now our doubles tennis team champs, Debbie Pierce and Kensy Sheerer. Come on up, ladies, and get your trophy.”
The room filled with cheers. Several people congratulated the women on their walk to the front.
Vicky walked up to Gini and gave her a big hug. “Gini, what a great hat.”
“Oh… yes, buy, for, sun, pro… teck. Beeg… uff, het.” She grinned.
“Robert.” Vicky kissed him on the cheek. “Great fundraiser.”
“This is the biggest crowd we’ve ever had. You ladies did a good job getting the word out.”
“I love the name, Walk New Haven to Help the Disabled. How was the walk?”
“Beautiful, right, Guiney?” Robert put his arm around her.
“Oh… yes. Meny, bird, meny.”
“How about the wheelchair races and those wonderful kids from Roxbury’s school for the deaf signing ‘The Star-Spangled Banner.’ Absolutely a perfect day.” Vicky was pleased with the efforts of the committee she chaired as a hospital volunteer.
Jessica had grown into a tall, athletic six-year-old. The family was involved in many activities through the church, country club, and hospital. This was the exact family life Debbie wanted for Robert and Gini, and she was enjoying it right along with them.
Her romance with Micky finally ended about eight months after Debbie met Kensy. Debbie hadn’t wanted the relationship to end, but Micky was hard to pin down as to just what she wanted. Debbie got tired of not being sure, not feeling valued enough. She knew Micky loved her, but there was something—something in Micky that needed to stay aloof. Debbie had seen too much of commitment by now to be satisfied with that. It wasn’t a bad breakup, at least not for Debbie, just a parting of the ways.
Debbie had attended many events with the ladies’ tennis group along with Kensy. Their friendship had flourished. Debbie was not ready to jump into another relationship and, although the two were close, no romantic advances had been made by either one of them. But there was not one day that went by that they didn’t see each other or talk on the phone.
Debbie liked the fact that she didn’t have to pursue or be pursued. The strong friendship was all she needed.
“Come in here,” Debbie said, opening the door for Kensy. Kensy carried in a long baking dish with her famous carrot cake. “You have more?”
“The salad’s in the car.”
“I’ll get it,” Debbie said.
Pastor Daniel was just getting out of his car, parked behind Kensy’s in the Young’s driveway. And two cars with the Meyers gang had pulled up in front of the house.
It was the seventh annual Christmas Eve dinner at the Youngs’.
The first one had been the year Jessica and Jason were born. Robert was so down with Gini’s slow recovery from the Coch virus, Vicky wanted to do something to help him through Christmas. She invited them to their house, but Robert said no, he didn’t want to get Gini out in the cold. So Vicky brought the event to him.
The Young house was scantly furnished, so she brought folding chairs, tables, and dinner.
The two babies were on a big blanket in the middle of the great room floor. Jessica had just learned to sit up. She had a plastic ring fisted in each hand and was
