Return to Corbin's Bend

by Corinne Alexander

  “I know,” Carol said. “I just hope there’s a fire or something to at least make it worthwhile.”

  “Carol!” Crystal said.

  “Sorry, I didn’t mean it literally.”

  “I should hope not.”

  Crystal leaned in and kissed her, giving her bottom a discrete pinch. “Behave.”

  “Who me?” Carol said with a grin. “Always.”

  “You be good for your mommy,” Crystal said, hugging her daughter close and popping a kiss on her cheek.”

  “I’m always good,” Bri said.

  They waved goodbye to Crystal and then went inside to finish breakfast. Carol poured a cup of coffee and sat at the table with Bri. “So, just us girls tonight, Bri? Let’s get a pizza.”

  “Momma doesn’t think we should eat pizza on weekdays.”

  Momma isn’t here, she thought. “I’m sure it won’t hurt just this once.”

  “Yay!” Bri said. “Can we have candy and popcorn and watch movies?”

  Carol winced. “One movie, if we start early. It’s a school night.”

  “Can we eat in the living room then while we watch?”

  “Fair compromise,” Carol said. “Now go brush your teeth. I’ll be in soon to do your hair.”

  “Bummer huh,” Jen said. “If your girlfriend was into men, I might start to think that she and Brock were having an affair. Wanna come over for coffee? We can wallow.”

  “Of course,” Carol said. “And blow your diet, I’m gonna go past Ange’s and pick up a treat. I need sugar.”

  “Mmm.”

  “How’d it go?” Sienna asked, coming out of the school gate towards them.

  Carol rolled her eyes. “Not great.” That was an understatement, she thought.

  “Okay, then. This is not a conversation we need to have out here at the school gate. Coffee?” Jen asked Sienna.

  “Definitely. I’ll call Erin. I can’t see her anywhere. Zach must have brought the kids again this morning.”

  “He usually does,” Jen said. “Lucky girl. What I wouldn’t give to collapse with a second cup of coffee when the rush is over.”

  “I know right? Specially now the weather is starting to cool down,” Sienna added. “She’s coming by the way, she’ll meet us there.”

  “Let’s go then,” Jen said.

  By the time Carol got back to Jen’s, everyone was there.

  “Oh you’re here!” Jen said, walking out to Carol’s car when she arrived. She peeked into the box of goodies. These look nice.”

  “Yeah they do,” Carol said, without a lot of enthusiasm.

  “Are you okay, hon?”

  Carol tried to talk but her eyes just filled with tears. “I never cry,” she said.

  “What’s wrong?” Jen asked with concern. “Are you upset because Crystal’s working?”

  Carol shrugged. “Partly. I don’t know. I wanted to talk, I thought we’d spend a few days together and be able to talk while Bri was at school.”

  “Now they’re away again for another two days,” Jen said. “I know, I miss Brock too but it’s only a couple of days until they’re home.”

  “I guess,” Carol said. “I thought, I mean I just assumed that she would jump at the chance of another child. When we had Bri, she wanted it more than I did but I went along with it because she wanted it and she was right, it was the right decision and I just know that this will be too.”

  “Maybe she just needs some time to get used to the idea.”

  “She wasn’t happy that I came up with the idea after we’d all been together,” Carol said. “She thinks that our little group planted the idea in my head. We argued.”

  “Well I can guess how that went. Was it bad?”

  “I’ve had worse. I was disappointed and I crossed the line. I’m still disappointed and sad.”

  “Well, we better fix that,” Jen said, wrapping an arm around her friend. “Come on, cheer up, I’m here.”

  “You always are.”

  “There you are,” Erin said as Jen and Carol came into the living room. “I was starting to wonder where you got to.”

  “I’m here,” Carol said, “and I brought goodies.”

  “Ooh yum.” Sienna passed around the small plates that Jen had placed on the coffee table.

  “Carol needs some cheering up,” Jen said. “It seems that Crystal didn’t go for the whole baby idea.”

  “Aww. Sorry, Carol,” Erin said. “Maybe she just needs some time to get her head around the idea.”

  “That’s what she said. That it wasn’t a decision you made with friends over coffee and that she wanted to think about it and to make sure that we were both sure.”

  “I guess that would depend on who your friends were,” Sienna said with a grin. “When it’s a bunch of smart people like us that are full of creative ideas, who knows what we might come up with.”

  “That’s right,” Erin said. “Look what we came up with for the gala day!”

  “And let’s not forget why that became necessary,” Jen said with a giggle. “It was though so much fun.”

  “Until we nearly got arrested.”

  “And we got paddled in front of the town.”

  “But we learned something,” Carol said, finally shaking off her mood and getting in with the spirit. “Make sure you know the laws before you do something and while it’s fun to run right up to the line and look over sometimes, make sure you don’t step over it.”

  “You know, we let our pact slip after that. We agreed to have ‘live young again Wednesdays’. I think it’s time we got it going again, sort of. We need a project,” Sienna said. “I have just the thing.” All eyes were on her. “I know being gay could sometimes be a bit of a hindrance in getting pregnant, but it could also be an advantage.”

  “How so?” Carol asked.

  “Well, if I wanted to get pregnant, I couldn’t hide it from Toby. I kind of need him. You on the other hand could get a head start.”

  “Oh my God! Are you suggesting I get pregnant behind Crystal’s back?”

  “Of course not!” Sienna said.

  “That wouldn’t be a good idea,” Jen said, shaking her head nervously.

  “Not the getting pregnant behind Crystal’s back,” Erin agreed, “but some creative planning couldn’t hurt.”

  “See that’s what I mean,” Sienna said. “You have to plan to have a baby. You have to decide where the sperm is going to come from; do you go to a place, do you ask a friend and do the whole turkey baster thing?”

  “Let’s not get crass,” Jen said. “Some things are private.”

  “I wasn’t asking to know the ins and outs. I’m just saying it’s something that has to be considered. One of many things that need to be considered that come to mind.”

  “Hmm. Some of what you say could have some merit,” Carol said. “I mean, if it was just looking into sperm donations and such.”

  “Right!” Sienna said. “Then, when Crystal comes around to the idea of you getting pregnant you’ll be ready to go. It’s just good business sense really. “

  “I guess it would be time effective,” Jen said. “I mean, even if Crystal changes her mind in a few months, then you have to start looking for a donor and everything else that’s involved. This way most of that stuff would already be taken care of or set up at least.”

  Carol said nothing. She looked at the faces that were waiting for an answer and finally she smiled. “Let’s do it. It’ll be fun to check it all out, even if it does end up just being a dream.”

  “You know what? This calls for lunch and a glass of wine or two,” Erin said. “Loosen up our brain cells a little.”

  “Yep, that would be just the ticket. Where would you like to go, honey?” Jen asked Carol.

  “Endele’s? It’s close and we can all afford to have one or two glasses of wine and still be okay to get the kids.”

  “Sounds good to me. Let’s make it an early lunch,” Jen said. “I’ll bring a pad and pen. We need to write
a list.”

  “What are you going to put on a list?” Carol giggled.

  “I don’t know, stuff,” Jen said. “Don’t you make fun of my lists. I’m organized.”

  “So am I.” Carol poked out her tongue. “I just like a bit of chaos with my organization.”

  “Uh huh.”

  “Sometimes you two sound like an old married couple.” Sienna laughed.

  “Ew,” Carol said.

  “What she said,” Jen added. “She’s like my sister.”

  Crystal took her phone and snuck outside the station in the hope of a few quiet minutes on the phone with her love. It worried her that Carol had been so unhappy when she left. What with the argument the night before, the spanking and Carol randomly wanting to get pregnant. Sure they’d made up, but Carol wasn’t herself. She never complained when she had to work. It was a life they had shared for more than ten years. She tapped the home button and waited while it rang, and rang and rang. No answer. She tried Carol’s cell. This time she picked up.

  “Hi, hon,” she said.

  Crystal could hear talking in the background and then the unmistakable tinkle of Bernie’s laugh. “You having lunch?” she asked. She tried to push away the feeling that was bubbling up in her throat. It was unreasonable of her. Carol should have friends. Even if those friends had way too much influence over what her girlfriend did. “You won’t be late to pick up Brianna will you?”

  “Really? You think I would do that? Our daughter is always my top priority.”

  “No. I mean, just be careful,” Crystal said. “I love you. I just wanted to tell you that again.”

  “I love you too,” Carol said. “I can’t hear you very well though. I’ll talk to you tonight okay. Don’t worry about Bri. I’ll be there on time.”

  “Problem?” Brock asked, appearing beside her.

  “No. Just wanted to touch base with Carol, that’s all.”

  “She okay?”

  “Yeah, she’s fine.” Crystal wanted to tell Brock, but if she did, she would be doing the same thing as Carol. This was personal couple business and it didn’t involve all and sundry. She would be some kind of hypocrite if she said one thing to Carol and then blurted all their business out to Brock.”

  “Okay, well we have some equipment still to check out so...”

  “I’m coming.” Crystal popped her phone back in her pocket and followed him inside.

  “What are you four up to?” Bernie asked as she set down the girl’s drinks.

  “Nothing, Bernie.” Jen quickly covered the list they’d just been giggling over with her napkin. “We um...”

  “It’s just kind of a shopping list,” Sienna said.

  “Is it just?” Bernie leaned in conspiratorially. “I don’t think you’re gonna find what’s on that list in any supermarket in Corbin’s Bend.”

  “Huh?” Erin said, snatching the list which only had one item written on it. “Oh Jen, you’ve written sperm. Jen must just have a dirty mind. She was supposed to write perm.”

  “Oh did I?” Jen asked. “Silly me. We need to buy perming solution. I’m going to give Carol a new do.”

  Carol grinned.

  “You’re going to let Jen perm your hair?” Bernie asked. Her voice sounded interested but her eyes showed she didn’t believe a word.

  “Ah, well, it was probably more like Jen trying to talk me into having a perm.”

  “If you say so,” Bernie said. “Now can I get you anything else?” she asked.

  “No thank you, Bernie,” they all chorused, relieved when the friendly woman walked away.

  “Damn, that was like trying to justify to your mother how your most ridiculous lie was the truth,” Carol said.

  “Might be an idea to put the pad away Jen,” Sienna said. “We don’t need it.”

  “Yeah,” Jen said, screwing up the note and dropping it in her purse. “From now on when referring to the key ingredient here, we will say the word perm.”

  “Okay,” Carol said. “Where do you think we should look first?”

  “What for?” Erin asked as she sipped her wine.

  “The best and most suitable perming solution,” Jen said. “Keep up.”

  “Oh, perming solution.” Erin nodded. “Well, wouldn’t it be ideal if you knew the person that was going to...” She looked up when Bernie appeared at the table.

  “Just thought you ladies might like a little dessert,” she said, placing down a plate of Churros.

  “Oh yum! Thanks, Bernie,” Carol said.

  The other ladies added their thanks and chatted a little until Bernie took her leave.

  “You were saying?” Carol said.

  “Oh yeah,” Erin said. “Wouldn’t be great if you knew the person who was going to, well, donate the perming solution?”

  “I guess. It might be weird though. I mean, Crys and I are Bri’s parents. What if, that person wanted to be around, you know to check out how the perm turned out? That would make things super complicated.”

  “If you don’t mind me asking; how did you do this when you conceived Brianna,” Erin said.

  “It was complicated,” Carol said, waiting until Bernie was well and truly nowhere near them. “Crystal’s mom was always very supportive of her, still is. Long before I was even in the picture they had chosen an investment and stored it, just in case.”

  “Just in case what? She wanted to have a baby on her own?”

  “I never asked, but I guess so. Crystal offered to start again so I could help but I was young. It seemed easier to just go along with things as they were. Men’s perming solution was not one of my life priorities at that time.”

  “It doesn’t piss you off that you weren’t included in the whole process?”

  “Not really. Although it does figure in my favor now,” she said with a smile. “I have a lovely daughter because of their choices. They must have checked into the owner of the solutions fairly thoroughly. Crystal is a very careful person.”

  “It would be nice to know that the, um, original holder of the perming solution wasn’t a serial killer or anything,” Jen said. “Maybe someone you know that doesn’t want to have any curls of their own. But who do you know that you could ask?”

  “Who do you know that has the hair solution you’re looking for?”

  “I don’t know, I don’t really care about perfect looks or anything. I’d like someone who was nice.”

  “And not a serial killer.” Sienna giggled.

  “That would be a plus,” Carol said. “Definitely someone tall. I’ve always hated being this short.”

  “I have the perfect person!” Sienna almost shouted.

  “Shh,” Carol said. “This will get back to Lizzy and Marilyn in a heartbeat and then I’ll really be in trouble.” Lizzy and Marilyn were Crystal and her mentors. They were good friends with Bernie and she knew the woman, although lovely, wouldn’t hesitate to let the mentors know if she thought something untoward was going on. Worse than that, her search would be over before it even had the chance to start. “But tell me quietly, who?”

  “Jonathon!” Sienna hissed.

  “Jonathon...” Carol said, mulling over the suggestion.

  Chapter 3

  Thanks, Bernie,” Carol said as they paid their check and left. She smiled at her friends who were full of what they were all sure was a perfectly brilliant idea. “I have to admit I’m a little nervous about actually asking him,” Carol said as they walked along Cabner Drive towards the housing co-op’s office.

  “It’ll be fine,” Jen said. “Strike while the iron’s hot I say. Besides, you’re not asking him if he will be the donor, just if he would ever consider being the donor.”

  “That’s pretty much the same thing,” Erin added.

  “No, it’s not,” Jen argued.

  “Can you hold up a minute please?” Sienna yelled out. She was tottering behind the group in high-wedged heels.

  “Why are you wearing those ridiculous heels?” Carol asked.

/>   “I thought I was going out to a leisurely lunch, not a hike!” Sienna grumbled.

  “This was your damn idea!” Carol giggled.

  “We’re walking off the wine from lunch, Sienna, so we’ll be okay to get the kids.”

  “Just take off your shoes, Sienna, please? If I have to do this, it needs to be quick, like ripping off a bandaid,” Carol said.

  Sienna’s red hair blew wildly in the breeze as she bent to undo her shoes. “For the greater cause, and for the sake of my feet, I will.”

  “I don’t know why you even wear those giant clod hoppers,” Carol said. “You’re already a giant as it is.”

  “Only from the perspective of a short person.” She gave Carol a good-natured push. “But you are very cute.”

  “I am not cute!” Carol said with a look of horror. “Inside this small body lurks the soul of a tall and very powerful person.”

  “And brave?” asked Jen with a smile.

  “Of course,” Carol said.

  “Good, then let’s just get in there and ask him.”

  “That’s the plan,” Carol said, balking at the front door. “But what if Brent’s there?”

  “Well obviously, we make an excuse and run,” Erin said.

  Jen opened the door first and after a quick look, entered, dragging Carol behind her.

  “Hey not so fast,” Carol whispered. “I was coming.” The other two stepped in behind her leaving the four all bunched up together.

  “You trod on my toe,” Sienna yelped, glaring at Erin.

  “Sh. Sorry,” Erin whispered.

  “I can hear all you ladies.” Jonathon came out from behind a cabinet. “Is there something I can help you with? You’re not in trouble again are you?”

  “Why would you ask that?” Jen asked with a grin.

  “Maybe because you’re skulking around corners and there are four of you trying to occupy the space of one.”

  The women immediately spread out. “Is Brent in?” Sienna asked.

  “Do you have an appointment?”

  “No, we don’t want to see Brent,” Erin said.

  “Oh?”

  “Yeah, no,” Jen said.

  “But is he in?” Sienna asked.

  “No, he isn’t in, which is apparently what you wanted to hear. You’re in luck. Now what’s all this about?”