One Woman’s Treasure

by Jean Copeland

  Nina sighed, trying to control her growing indignation. “I don’t need absolution from you or anyone else. I made my choice, and I don’t regret it. Once we’ve all adjusted to the changes, we’ll be happier for it.”

  “Always the level-headed business executive.”

  “Have a good time with Noah tonight.” She ended the call without waiting for his response. Clearly, Zack still had more healing to do, and she understood that fact. If the truth be told, she had needed absolution, but her lovely new friend, Daphne, had already covered it, reassuring her that self-discovery counted for something.

  She texted Noah telling him to have fun at mini-golf tonight, and that she loved and missed him. As she waited for his reply, she thought of Daphne. It was short notice, but maybe she was free and would like to come by for some wine and a light dinner.

  * * *

  To Nina’s pleasant surprise, not only was Daphne free, but she’d managed to make it to her house with a bottle of sparkling rosé wine within an hour.

  “I’m so glad you texted,” Daphne said. “I thought about asking you to get together, but I figured you were probably really busy these days.”

  Nina spooned some cold couscous, avocado, and bean salad onto her plate, licking the excess that fell from the spoon and landed on her finger. “Believe it or not, I’m not as busy as I used to be. I mean, work still consumes a lot of my time and energy, but now that Zack and I share custody of Noah, I have more ‘me time’ than I’d anticipated. I guess I still have to find my groove.”

  “How is all that going?” Daphne said. “I remember you saying it had been difficult with Zack not wanting the divorce.”

  “It’ll be finalized in another month or two. We’ve done everything we needed to on our end, but he’s still struggling.” Nina sipped her wine. “He needs to find a girlfriend. Then maybe he won’t be so fixated on continually reminding me that I ruined our family.”

  “But if you’ve realized you’re a lesbian, what did he expect? If you stayed with him, that wouldn’t be fair to either of you.”

  “He didn’t think I’m a true lesbian. He said I’m probably bi, and we could deal with that as a couple.”

  “He really said that?” Daphne grimaced.

  Nina smirked. “Mansplaining your wife’s sexual awakening for her. That’s a new one, huh?”

  Daphne shrugged. “Something tells me it’s probably not.”

  They shared a sorority-sister type laugh as they paused their venting session to load pita bread with hummus, cucumbers, and tzatziki sauce. Daphne looked so cute when she took a bite and licked the sauce from the corner of her mouth.

  After a few moments of chewing, they resumed their chat. “So he’s still trying to make you feel like you ruined the family?”

  Nina offered a solemn nod. “That’s what upsets me most. I believe in family. I really do.” She straightened her back and spoke with passion. “I mean, I agonized over the decision for a long time before filing for divorce. I didn’t want that for Noah. But I knew what it was like to grow up in a house where the parents stayed together for the family’s sake. It was definitely more convenient for me and my brother when we were young, but it gave us an unhealthy view of marriage. My brother’s divorced, too, and no one came out as gay in that marriage.”

  When Nina finally surfaced for air, she noticed Daphne’s awkward expression. “Wow. I’ve unloaded a lot on you so early into our drinking.”

  Daphne laughed and refilled their glasses. “To be honest, I’m honored you feel like you can. I like to fancy myself a good listener for friends. But I never feel like I know what to say to make them feel better, so I kind of get this uncomfortable look on my face—at least that’s what I’ve been told.”

  “Oh, no. Not at all.” In an uncharacteristic move, Nina fibbed to spare her feelings. Daphne’s empathy touched her so. How could she point out that her facial expression had, indeed, resembled that of a woman receiving a mammogram?

  “Well, for what it’s worth, I think you did the right thing,” Daphne said. “Why should becoming a mother mean you have to completely sacrifice your own happiness? My parents got divorced, and they both went on to have other relationships with nice people. It’s not the end of the world.”

  “My son, for one, would probably agree. He really seems okay with everything.” Nina shrugged, and then an anxious thought assailed her. “Unless he’s bottling up all his feelings and is going to grow up to be a truck-stop serial killer.”

  Daphne laughed as she was drinking, and Nina feared the sparkling rosé might spurt from her nose. “I don’t mean to laugh,” she said. “But Noah is so far from serial-killer material.”

  Nina smiled at herself. “I know. I’m still worked up from talking to Zack. I should’ve left well enough alone, but being here by myself made me feel some weird type of way. It’s a gorgeous night, and I’m glad you’re keeping me company.”

  “I’m so glad you called me,” Daphne said. “You have the best yard for hanging out and enjoying drinks.”

  “Now to figure out how to expand my social circle so more people can come over and partake of it with us. How do you meet lesbians around here?”

  “An excellent question.” Daphne sat back in her chair, crossed her legs, and sipped her wine like a philosopher pondering life’s great mysteries.

  Nina waited, her anticipation mounting. “And the answer is?”

  Daphne leaned forward slowly, deliberately, and addressed Nina as if she were about to reveal the Holy Grail. “I don’t know.”

  “You’re a goof.” Nina laughed and threw a cherry tomato at her for drawing out the suspense. “Seriously, though. How do you meet interesting lesbian friends?”

  “Nowadays, you can join lots of online social groups. I belong to this group of local women who like to do outdoorsy things and have met some interesting people.”

  “How about dating websites? Have you ever met anyone there?”

  Daphne shook her head. “I was with Savannah, or Ann Marie, or whatever the hell she’s calling herself, for a long time. We had couple-friends, but now that we’re not a couple anymore…” She shrugged. “I’m not really outgoing, so I don’t meet a lot of new people. Except when I steal from them.”

  “That worked out for both of us,” Nina said. “Oh, well. We’ll figure something out. In the meantime, here’s to us.” She raised her stemless wineglass.

  Daphne smiled. “You know something? I used to be so sad that my old friends sided with Ann Marie, but after I got to know my neighbor Sophie much better and I met you, I’ve realized that even the darkest times can turn into the brightest spots in life. I know that sounds corny but…”

  “No, no. I agree. I’ve had the same realization. If a breakup causes friendships to end, they weren’t very solid to begin with. Take out that trash, girl.”

  “Yes.” Daphne gestured with a sweeping hand. “We’re decluttering our lives.” They both chuckled. “And now that we’ve decluttered, that leaves us room for more antiques. If you’re free this Sunday, there’s an indoor flea market in Fairfield. I’ve found some cool pieces there in the past.”

  “Flea market? You know, I’ve never thought of that as a place to hunt antiques. I’ve always just hit estate sales and actual antique shops. But yes, I am free.” Nina felt a smile stretching across her face. What was she so giddy about? A spectacular sparkling rosé, new things on the horizon? Or was it a…no. Please, no. It absolutely wasn’t because she was starting to crush on Daphne.

  It would certainly help her cause if Daphne would stop flashing that adorable nervous grin when Nina least expected it.

  * * *

  Sunday when Daphne woke up, she followed her usual morning routine of catching up on the news, and then getting sucked down a social-media wormhole for a time. But that morning something was different. After she’d scrolled through her favorite news sites, she put her phone down and got in the shower. While shampooing her hair, she realized she hadn’t st
alked any of Savannah’s sites. No Insta, no Facebook, and no YouTube for her latest Vlog in which she probably espoused, with the utmost vigor, the colon-health and weight-loss benefits of kale smoothies. Again.

  Gloriously, indisputably, she simply didn’t care what Savannah was up to.

  Daphne waited in her driveway for Nina to arrive in her SUV. Was she indifferent to Savannah’s postings because she was anticipating the day ahead with Nina, or had she finally turned the corner in mourning the breakup? She hoped it was the latter but didn’t want to underestimate Nina’s impact on her during their brief acquaintance. Anyway, she’d find out in time.

  After they located parking at the crowded flea market, Daphne directed Nina to the area where sellers rented booths for an entire season instead of only a day or a weekend.

  “Here’s where they sell the good stuff,” Daphne said as she playfully dragged Nina by the arm.

  “I can see the difference.” Nina headed directly to a table featuring vintage platters and service sets. “I love this place already.”

  “I’ve had to stay away for a while. I always manage to find such great pieces that I’m running out of room at my house.”

  “How long have you been a collector?”

  Daphne thought back to her childhood but opted for a simple explanation. “Since I was a kid, I guess. I’ve always loved to save special things. There’s something kind of romantic about rifling through an old chest and discovering forgotten keepsakes. Over the last couple of years, the hobby kind of evolved into a way of life.”

  “I’d love to see your collection sometime,” Nina said. “That is, if you ever invite me over.” She crinkled her eyebrows. “Are you hiding something there?”

  Daphne laughed self-consciously. “What? No.”

  “Like a wife or a girlfriend,” Nina teased her. “Or some priceless stolen artifacts.”

  Daphne giggled again. “I have no secrets. Just a two-bedroom ranch with no attic and a damp basement, so it’s tricky to store anything, priceless or otherwise. At this point, my house could make the ones on Hoarders look just a smidge untidy.”

  “I’m sure it’s not that bad,” Nina said. “Do you plan to sell things eventually?”

  “That’s been the plan.” Daphne suddenly felt out of her league. How could she talk about her simple business dream with a successful corporate executive? She’d bore her to death. However, during the last couple of months, Nina had more than demonstrated her humility about her own success and her support of female empowerment. “I’ll be honest with you,” she finally said. “I’ve wanted to open my own antique business for a long time but have never been able to take the leap. I wouldn’t know where to begin.”

  Nina seemed intrigued. “Hmm. When you say business, what do you mean? A brick-and-mortar place or your own website?”

  “Can’t I do both?”

  “That’s the kind of answer I like.” Nina nodded in approval as she glanced around at the tables of merchandise. “Do you have enough stock for a booth here?”

  “Like a seasonal one?”

  “Yes. You can learn almost everything you need to know about running a business here—managing inventory, accounting, overhead, marketing. It would make a perfect little start-up.”

  Daphne pondered the suggestion. She could barely open the door in her spare bedroom, and in her living room, she had trouble differentiating her own belongings from the ones she’d collected for inventory. “Uh, yeah. I could probably fill a small space for a season.”

  “Perfect.” Nina had an almost maniacal look in her eyes. “Before we leave, we’ll inquire about renting a space. If you want, I can help with any paperwork for permits. You’ll need to name your business, and then we can set you up a website.”

  “Nina, you keep saying ‘we,’ but you can’t possibly have time to help with all that.”

  “Don’t you worry, sister. I find time for what’s important. I started a junior-executive mentoring program at work for teen girls interested in pursuing business degrees after high school. Next year, we’ll have our first mentee graduate with an MBA.”

  “That’s amazing.” Was there anything this woman couldn’t do?

  “I don’t care much for braggarts,” Nina said. “But I’ll shamelessly brag about that accomplishment. We have two more young women on pace to earn them.”

  Daphne sighed with admiration. “When you’re free, would you mind also running for president?”

  Nina laughed. “It’s on my calendar. Anyway, think about a name for your business.”

  “That’s easy. I already have one.”

  “You do? What is it?”

  Daphne closed her eyes, savoring the pleasure of saying it out loud to someone other than Savannah. “Trash to Treasure Antiques and Collectibles.”

  “I love it.”

  “Really? You’re not just saying that? It’s not corny?”

  “Not corny at all.” Nina’s eyes shone with the enthusiasm of a shopping-channel host. “It expertly captures the essence of the business. Not just of the actual product you’re selling but the heart and soul behind it. It’s very relatable.”

  “Yes, yes. That’s exactly what I was going for but couldn’t quite put it into words.”

  Nina smiled like a proud mother. “You didn’t need to. The name says it all.”

  Daphne basked in Nina’s praise and thought back to one of her last arguments with Savannah before their relationship completely fell apart.

  Daphne had been complaining about how “Savannah” had taken over Ann Marie, and that their relationship was suffering as a result. Earlier, she’d reluctantly agreed to start calling her Savannah, wanting to support her new enterprise, but Ann Marie had become so tied up in her new identity as a perky, self-purported weight-loss guru, Daphne hardly recognized her.

  “Savannah” had not taken Daphne’s concerns well when Daphne had approached her “at work” in their den one day.

  Daphne stood in the doorway for a moment waiting to be acknowledged. When her mere presence didn’t attract Savannah’s attention, she coughed slightly. Savannah kept typing away. Daphne then resorted to an abrupt, “Honey?”

  “Hmm?” Savannah replied without looking up from the laptop screen.

  “Honey, can you take a break from YouTubing and viewing your social-media accounts so we can have a nice dinner out tonight?”

  Savannah’s head snapped toward her. “How dare you come at me like this?” Her sharp response reminded Daphne of the eighties nighttime soap divas she’d watched with her mother in reruns as a child.

  Daphne pleaded. “I just want us to find our way back to how we used to be.”

  “Those days are gone, Daphne.” She rolled away from her computer and stood up. “At long last, overweight, self-loathing Ann Marie is dead. Savannah Locke is the woman I’ve always dreamed of being, the woman I’ve always known was buried inside that wretched, carb-obsessed creature I used to be.”

  “I never thought you were wretched. I love Ann Marie. I mean, I love you. Do you still love me, or is that part of you dead, too?”

  Savannah eyed her with obvious suspicion. “Don’t play coy with me. You’re trying to hold me back in your needy, smothering way.”

  Daphne was flabbergasted. “What? How could you say—”

  “You’re clearly jealous—either because I no longer have the time to dote on you every minute of the day like a codependent flake, or because I’ve achieved the success I’ve always dreamed about, and you…well, you’re still a customer-service rep.”

  “I’m happy for your success, Ann Marie—”

  “Savannah,” she snapped. “You promised you’d call me that.”

  “Look, Savannah. I don’t understand why you’re lashing out at me when I’m just trying to tell you that I miss you and need—I mean want some of your attention.”

  “You want all of it, and that’s the problem. You know you’ll never be as successful as I am.”

  “Well, no,
not in the way you are, but I’ll be successful. I’m going to open my own antique business soon.”

  Savannah cackled. “Do you know how long I’ve been hearing you say that? I can almost recite the speech along with you.”

  Daphne looked down, ashamed. Savannah was right. Before Ann Marie ever bit into her first Atkins bar, Daphne had regaled her with musings of self-employment through her passion for treasure-seeking. But something had always stood in her way.

  “Face it, Daphne. You don’t have the moxie to be a self-made woman.”

  “I’ll do it someday. I’m still in the planning stages,” she said, but secretly she feared she’d never have what it took to pull it off.

  “Mmm-hmm,” Savannah replied. “Meanwhile, you should just sit back, relax, and enjoy riding my wave of success—until your ship comes in.”

  Savannah smirked. Otherwise, Daphne might’ve believed she really meant what she said.

  Daphne forced the images from her mind. She didn’t want to slip back into that shadowy period, especially in the presence of such a bright, positive woman who apparently saw something in her that her own partner never had.

  “Want to get some lunch after this?” Nina asked.

  Daphne smiled. What a treat to have a friend with no toxic motivations. “I’d love to. I hear there’s a great brewery not too far from here.”

  “Sounds like the optimal location to undertake a new business venture. And by that I mean visiting the market’s website and filling out your vendor application.”

  “If you insist,” Daphne said.

  “I absolutely do.”

  * * *

  At the brewery, Nina and Daphne agreed on a table near an open garage door to maximize the advantages of the gorgeous weather. An early summer breeze played in their hair as they extensively sampled and analyzed each other’s beer flights. After they dug into a veggie pizza, a burp escaped from Daphne. Nina tried not to laugh, but she couldn’t completely contain a quick snort of amusement. She loved Daphne’s simple authenticity. She had no airs about her, measured nothing in monetary value, and seemed to listen solely to hear another person’s ideas, not so she could reply with something more profound.