by Harper Bliss
“Quinn and I are happy together,” Maya said. She may as well play the happy card now—which mother could resist that?
“How long has this been going on?” Brooke asked.
“A while.”
“A while?” Brooke shouted. “Is it even serious yet?”
It’s very serious, Maya thought. She knew that in her bones, because of the ups and downs they’d gone through already. Because of her own doubts she’d had to conquer. But again, this was not something she should say to Brooke right now.
“If you could just be there for Quinn on Thursday. It would mean so much to her.”
“I don’t need you to tell me that. She’s my daughter, damn it.”
Maya heard a man’s muffled voice in the background. Brooke had probably covered her phone with her hand. Had Bill been listening along all this time?
“Maya.” There he was. “This is Bill.” As if it needed saying.
“Hi, Bill.”
“Tell Quinn that it goes without saying that her mother and I will be there for her. We will always be there for her.”
Before Maya had a chance to say anything, the line went dead. She didn’t know if she’d obtained a good result or not. But at least she knew they’d be coming to Quinn’s show. For now, that was all that mattered. They’d take the next hurdle when it presented itself.
Chapter 40
“Ready?” Imogen asked.
“As I’ll ever be.” Quinn watched Imogen unlock the front door, but this wasn’t a concert or exclusive club night and it wasn’t as if there was a line outside, eagerly waiting for admission to the premises. Only Griff walked in as soon as the door was opened.
“Aaaah!” Griff squealed. “I’m so excited for you, Quinn.”
“Thanks.” Quinn followed Imogen to the corner of the gallery where they’d set up a bar.
“Here you go.” Imogen handed them both a glass of champagne. “To a great opening and an amazing show of Quinn Hathaway originals.”
They clinked glasses, after which Imogen excused herself to go and take care of something.
“Are you not nervous?” Griff asked.
“Not with you by my side,” Quinn quipped.
Griff threw an arm around her. “I know it’s been a tough week.”
Quinn nodded. She’d been surprised by the emotional turmoil inside of her. Even as she stood here, at the cusp of one the most important evenings of her life, she felt like she could burst into tears at any given time. Or maybe that was just her nerves acting up. Because this was a big deal.
“When’s Maya arriving?” Griff asked.
“Depends on traffic.” Quinn looked at her watch. “She should be here any minute.” Maya had offered to cancel her Thursday afternoon classes so she could be there with Quinn for the last preparations, but Quinn had assured her that was not necessary. Now she felt sorry she had wanted to be so independent. She couldn’t wait for Maya to arrive. Her presence would calm her down, release some of the stubborn knot of tension in her stomach.
There was movement outside, but it was just a few people walking past. Nobody wanted to be the first to arrive. Quinn took a few more sips of champagne. She paused, then downed the entire glass. She was at the start of an evening of, hopefully, non-stop talk about herself and her work. Who knew when she’d get another chance for a drink? More movement outside. Quinn stiffened. That gray head of hair. That lanky, stiff silhouette. Even though Maya had assured her they would come, Quinn hadn’t been able to shake off every doubt. But there they were.
Now that she actually saw her parents, Quinn wasn’t so sure she’d be able to hold back those tears for much longer.
“Sweetheart.” Her dad walked in with his arms outstretched.
Quinn all but ran into his embrace—once a daddy’s girl, always a daddy’s girl. Tears ran down her face as she pushed herself against her father’s solid, safe chest. She felt her mother’s hand against her back.
“What’s all this?” her dad said, gesturing at the room. “Looks like you’ve been busy.”
Quinn dried her tears. For a moment, she’d wished she could hide in her father’s arms all night long.
“Darling.” Her mother squeezed her shoulder and kissed her on the cheek. “You’re quite something, but I’ve known that forever.”
“Oh my god.” Quinn exhaled audibly. “Up until you walked in, I really wasn’t sure you’d come.”
“We’re here.” Her dad pinned his gaze on her. “Got it?”
Quinn nodded, even though she didn’t know if he meant anything else by that. But they were here and it was really all that mattered. She glanced at the door. No sign of Maya yet.
“Walk us through?” her dad asked, after he had said hello to Griff and had a glass of champagne in his hand.
Quinn steered them to the opposite side of where Maya’s portrait hung. She’d wisely save that for last.
Quinn turned the corner, her parents in her wake. They hadn’t mentioned Maya yet, but soon neither one of them would have a choice, because she had just walked in.
Quinn could feel tension crackle in the air. She heard her mother inhale sharply—as though she’d just seen a ghost.
Maybe they should have set up this confrontation somewhere else other than in this gallery, where more people were starting to arrive, but this was how things had turned out. Quinn thought everyone involved would be civilized enough not to make a scene at an occasion like this.
Maya walked straight toward them with that confident gait she had from a life of dance. She stopped in front of Quinn, a wide, undaunted smile on her face. Maya had battled so many doubts about them and to have her show up like this, tonight of all nights, unfazed in front of her parents, meant the world to Quinn. She reached for Maya and kissed her briefly on the lips.
“Congratulations,” Maya said. “I could just burst with pride.” Only then did she look sideways—did she turn her attention away from Quinn. “Bill and Brooke Hathaway.” She gave a slight shake of the head. “I guess we have a thing or two to talk about.”
Quinn watched her dad extend his hand, as if this was their formal first meeting and they hadn’t been neighbors for decades. But she couldn’t expect miracles to happen. Or maybe one had already happened. Maya had shown up unafraid to face her parents, which meant she was no longer ashamed of her and Quinn being together—of them.
“Oh, come on, Bill.” Maya took his hand but, at the same time, pulled at his arm and drew him near for a hug. “The number of steaks you’ve cooked for me on that precious grill of yours and now you’re just going to shake my hand?” Maya had a lifetime of performance experience and she obviously knew how to turn it on.
Quinn’s dad embraced Maya, stiffly at first but then he relaxed, giving in to the affections of the woman he’d known for such a long time. But Quinn’s dad was always going to be the easiest to win over. The true test would be her mother.
Once extricated from Bill’s hug, Maya turned to Quinn’s mother. “Brooke.” Did her voice just break a little? Maya cleared her throat. Maybe hugging Quinn’s dad had loosened some emotions in her. Maybe it made her think of Tommy—the next ordeal on their list. “It’s so good to see you.”
Quinn could easily tell how much Maya meant it and she could only hope her mom could feel it too. That despite the circumstances not being ideal, they could be a kind of family tonight. Quinn knew that her parents being here and socializing with Maya didn’t mean they had suddenly, as if by magic, accepted that they were together. But maybe they could just start by pretending. By getting a feel for how things would be if they spent time together in this particular constellation.
“Oh, Maya.” Her mom shook her head but then opened her arms wide for Maya. Their hug, no matter how swift, or perhaps even put-on, touched Quinn deeply.
“Say it ain’t so,” Quinn’s dad said. At first, Quinn thought he was referring to Quinn’s mom and Maya’s embrace, but then he said, “Is that Tommy?”
Maya fro
ze. So did Quinn. She looked at the door and that was definitely Beth Robbins who had just walked in.
“On my god,” Griff squealed behind her. “Beth Robbins! I didn’t know she was coming.”
Neither did I. Quinn guessed, from the look on her face, this was a big surprise for Maya as well.
Chapter 41
What on earth were Tommy and Beth doing here? Maya didn’t get it. She had mentioned Quinn’s show to Tommy when she’d told him about having run into Quinn but she surely hadn’t invited her son and daughter-in-law. Why would she have? Moreover, Quinn’s name hadn’t come up in conversation since Beth had caught her in Maya’s bathroom.
Bill and Tommy shook hands while Quinn’s roommate was going gaga over Beth.
Maya’s brain frantically searched for answers. She exchanged a look with Quinn. “Did you know they were coming?” she whispered.
Quinn shook her head. “No idea. You?”
“None. Something’s going on.”
“Like what?” Quinn asked.
Imogen tapped Quinn on the shoulder. “Quinn, if I could just steal you for a moment, please.”
“Will you be okay?” Quinn asked Maya.
“Yes. Go do your thing,” Maya said, all the while feeling Tommy’s intense stare.
“Hey, Mom,” he said after he’d finished his catch-up with Bill.
“Tommy.” Maya kissed him hello. “What are you doing here? Where’s Ethan?”
“He’s with Beth’s mom.” Tommy narrowed his eyes. “Something told me I didn’t want to miss this event.”
Maya was too stunned to reply.
“It was easy enough to find the details online,” Tommy said. “There’s been quite a bit of buzz about this show, actually, and…” He maneuvered Maya away from the small group they stood in. “When my mother mentions she’s been spending time with our former neighbors’ daughter, and my wife tells me she found that very same person naked in my mother’s bathroom… I don’t know, Mom. I guess my curiosity has been more than piqued.”
Oh, damn. Maya had been prepared to deal with Bill and Brooke. Awkward as it might be, it would make good practice for when she would need to confront Tommy. But she hadn’t expected to have to do that tonight as well. A chill shuddered along her spine. She took a deep breath, but she still didn’t know what to say. It was an impossible situation because she’d just kissed Quinn on the lips in front of Bill and Brooke. She’d just shown them how she felt about their daughter. She couldn’t rewind, nor could she hide her feelings for Quinn any longer. Most of all, she didn’t want to lie to her son.
“Tommy,” she started. “I—” How to say it, though? It was especially hard because Maya could feel Brooke’s icy stare on her. She might have agreed to hug her for Quinn’s sake earlier, but she didn’t look as though she was going to make any more allowances now that Quinn had been whisked away.
There was only one way to say it—only one way to do this. “Quinn and I, we… we’re together.”
“I figured as much,” Tommy said matter-of-factly.
Maya huffed out a breath. She needed to release some tension from her body. “There are many reasons why I couldn’t tell you sooner.”
“I told Beth weeks ago there was something different about you.” He shook his head. “When she told me about Quinn in your bathroom, all the pieces of the puzzle slipped into place in my head.” He cast his gaze about the room before it landed on Maya again. “But I had to see it for myself.”
More and more people were arriving, filling up the gallery. Maya wondered what it meant that Tommy and Beth had taken time out of their busy schedules to be here tonight. It was hard to tell if it was a show of support or an opportunity to frown on Maya’s choice of who she spent her time with. Beth wouldn’t want to draw attention to herself like that and Tommy was usually such a discreet person. But still, Maya’s mind was too frazzled for her to read her son, the person she knew best in the world, right now.
“I’m in love with her,” Maya said. They were both the hardest and the easiest words she’d ever spoken to her son.
“You must be.” Tommy released a deep breath. “Beth and I have talked about this beforehand and we didn’t come here to make a scene. I just… wanted to know.” He eyed Beth who was still talking to Griff. She looked about ready to be saved. Maya called her over.
Tommy gave her a quick nod, as though confirming their suspicions.
“I have a lot to say, but this isn’t the place to say it.” Maya braved their gazes. “Bill and Brooke are here and they aren’t too pleased to see me, but there’s one thing that I’m not going to do and that’s apologize for how I feel. I’ve waited years to feel like this again and now that I do, I don’t want to ruin it.” She held up her hands. “That doesn’t mean I won’t take your feelings into account. I will listen to whatever it is you have to say, just not right now. I’m here for Quinn. It’s her night.”
“Mom,” Tommy said. “It’s okay.” He looked her in the eye. “I’ve done some pre-processing about this, in case my intuition was correct. I just want you to be happy. That’s really all I want.” He briefly touched his hand against her arm.
Pre-processing—that sounded just like Tommy. It was something his father would say.
Beth, who was a much more tactile person, curled her arm around Maya’s shoulder and pulled her near. “Don’t worry about Tommy, Maya. You know I’ve got him whipped.” She leaned in closer and whispered in Maya’s ear, “You deserve to be happy just as much as anyone else. Who are we to stand in the way of that? We love you.” Beth released her grip.
Maya wished she could be held a little longer.
“Evening, Mercers,” Angus said. With all the commotion, Maya hadn’t seen him come in. “Don’t mind me. I have a knack for interrupting special family moments. Pretend I’m not here, if it helps.”
“Yeah right.” Maya was so happy to see a friendly face—someone she didn’t have to explain anything to. “As if you would ever stand for not being noticed.” Angus was wearing his most flowery suit with a mustard yellow shirt underneath.
Angus gave her a look before turning his attention to Beth, whom he adored. “How’s that adorable little boy of yours, Miss Robbins?”
“Angus, please, call me Beth.” They played the same old game every time they saw each other and the familiarity of it comforted Maya. She tried to find Quinn in the crowd, but she couldn’t see her. She couldn’t wait to tell her that, suddenly, everyone knew.
“Can I speak with you for a minute?” Brooke asked.
Maya was just studying—again, she had to admit—the blown-up portrait of herself. The one where she seemed to float on a cloud over the Acton Academy building.
“Quinn is so talented,” Maya said, in case Brooke was refusing to look at the picture of her daughter’s… partner? Girlfriend? Lover? Ever since her conversation with Tommy, Maya’s elation had only grown. The free-flowing champagne might also have helped. It was only then that Maya noticed the red dot on the card next to the artwork. Did that mean someone had bought it? If so, could she find out who? She made a mental note to find the woman who owned the gallery later.
“Between us,” Brooke said, “I don’t think she gets that from Bill. Close as they are, art was never something they bonded over, although Bill always did encourage her to follow her dreams, no matter what they were. I guess that’s coming back to bite him in the ass big time now.” Brooke crossed her arms over her chest and took a step closer to the picture of Maya. “He’s very proud of her for this. For the record, neither one of us would have missed this for the world.”
“I figured as much.”
“It may also surprise you that Bill is having much more trouble accepting this—or no, accepting isn’t even the correct term yet. It’s too soon for anything resembling acceptance. He just can’t even begin to fathom it. I asked him who he was expecting given the women Quinn has dated in the past.” She made a tsking sound. “At least that ghastly woman who brok
e her heart into a thousand little pieces isn’t here.”
“Morgan?” Maya asked.
“It went on for years and years. I just didn’t understand how Quinn couldn’t see that it was going to end badly. Up to the point that I started wondering what I had done wrong in raising her that she picked a woman like that to be with.” Brooke sighed deeply. “It’s always the mother’s fault, you know.”
“Then I’ll take full credit for how happy Tommy is with Beth.” Maya knew she sounded condescending, but she didn’t care. She had an inkling she should arm herself for whatever Brooke would say next.
“They do make a dashing couple. And you’re a grandmother now as well.” She paused. “What does that make Quinn? Step-granny?”
There it was. “Just say what it is you really want to say, Brooke.”
“Will Tommy be calling a woman who’s barely older than him his stepmom soon?” The pitch of Brooke’s voice rose higher as she spoke—as she got more and more agitated. “Why can’t you see this is not right? You and my Quinn…”
“Quinn is never going to be Tommy’s stepmother. He already has a mother and a father. Parents he has a great relationship with, for your information, because in my family we just want each other to be happy.” Maya knew she sounded smug, especially because her initial fear of Tommy’s response to their relationship had almost driven her and Quinn apart for good.
“Oh, come on, Maya. Put yourself in our position. What if Beth were twenty years older and your former neighbor. A woman you used to share confidences with because you were peers. Because you were friends.”
“Do you mean to say if Beth were you?” Maya was having trouble staying calm—it had been easier on the phone because no one did the reproachful glare better than Brooke Hathaway.
“Yes, actually. That is what I mean to say.” Thank goodness Brooke didn’t have the presence of mind to go same-sex on the comparison.
“I know it’s not easy, Brooke. You’re worried about your daughter.” The problem wasn’t that Maya couldn’t see Brooke’s point of view—she could see it all too well. Maya didn’t have a defense at the ready for this. “As I would be about my own child if he were in Quinn’s situation, but…”