by Ann McMan
Syd lowered her hands and shook her head slowly. “Ten seconds? No, I don’t think that’s something you ever need to worry about.”
Maddie was intrigued. “So you honestly had no clue?”
Syd looked uncomfortable. “I won’t deny that maybe I thought about it once or twice—briefly, and in a very fleeting way. But, no, I didn’t have a clue. Not really.” She looked at her with an unreadable expression. “Wow.”
“Wow? Is that good or bad?”
“It’s just . . . wow. You keep amazing me.” She added quickly, “And before you ask, that’s not a bad thing.”
Maddie relaxed slightly. “Well, good.” She wanted more than anything to take hold of Syd’s hand, but knew she couldn’t. “I should apologize for not telling you sooner. I hope you know it’s not because I didn’t think I could trust you.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
Maddie thought about her answer. “It seemed inappropriate at first. I mean, I was your doctor. Then, when we started to become friends, I just didn’t want to make a big deal out of it.” She shrugged. “I guess I thought you’d simply intuit it from what you knew about my lifestyle, and my best friends.” She looked directly at Syd for a moment. “I’m sorry I never told you. I hope you’ll forgive me for that.”
“God, Maddie. There’s nothing to forgive.” She slowly shook her head. “So many things make so much more sense now.”
Maddie raised an eyebrow. “Oh, yeah? Like what?”
Syd gave her a wry smile. “Well, the whole vacuum cleaner thing, for one.”
Maddie laughed out loud. “Oh, that. Yeah, it’s true. If med school hadn’t worked out, I could’ve have had a stellar career rebuilding transmissions.”
“Never say never.”
“I rarely do.”
“Boy. Things sure don’t work out the way you think they will.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Maddie asked.
Syd’s gaze drifted over Maddie’s shoulder. “I’ll tell you later. I think our hosts are finally going to join us.”
DAVID PULLED UP a chair and poured himself a glass of the sparkling wine. “So, did you two lovelies find something to talk about?”
Maddie snorted. “You might say that.”
“Okay. What’d I miss?” David raised the glass to his lips.
Maddie sighed. “Nothing much. I just came out to Syd.”
David loudly sprayed wine back into his glass.
Michael quickly patted his back.
“You did what?” David asked, incredulous
“You heard me.”
He looked between Syd and Maddie with shock and dismay. “I so do not believe this. How dare you do this without letting me watch? And on Valentine’s Day, too.” He waved his hands in frustration. “That’s just sadistic.”
Maddie sat back and folded her arms. “Sorry, dude, you snooze, you lose. Film at eleven.”
“I hate you.” He looked at Syd, then back at Maddie. “How’d she take it?”
Maddie leaned toward him and whispered, “Why don’t you ask her?”
Across the table, Michael chortled and laid his arm across the back of Syd’s chair. “So it looks like we’ve got all kinds of things to celebrate tonight.” He met Syd’s eyes. “I told you not to worry so much.”
“What the hell is that supposed to mean?” David asked, clearly still agitated.
Michael rolled his eyes. “Will you just calm down, Mary Jane. Maybe if you’re a good girl, Spiderman will spin you another web.”
Maddie topped off her own glass. “Don’t count on it. I’m fresh out of secrets.”
David demurred. “Well, maybe if we sit here long enough, something else will occur to you.”
“Maybe not,” Maddie said with determination.
Michael held out a placating hand. “How about you two retreat to your respective corners, and we start this conversation over?”
“Why don’t I just make this easier on everyone, and tell you that I more or less forced her to tell me?” Syd said.
David threw his head back. “Oh, and that’s supposed to make me feel better about missing the revelation of the century?”
Maddie looked at him in amazement. “Why are you so bent out of shape about this? You’re acting like I just revealed that I was the one who kidnapped the Lindbergh baby.”
He sighed. “You’re right. It was hardly a breaking news alert.” He fixed Syd with a penetrating gaze. “Please tell me that you already suspected. I mean, surely, the tool belt was a dead giveaway?”
“Maddie doesn’t have a tool belt.” Syd wore a deadpan expression. “And don’t call me Shirley.”
Maddie chuckled as David gave Syd a withering look. “You two are so made for each other.”
Michael raised his wine glass. “I was just thinking exactly the same thing. Let’s toast to the beginning of new friendships, and an end to old secrets.”
They all clinked glasses and drank. Then Michael waved their server over. “Now let’s get this birthday feast underway.”
“Hear, hear.” David turned to Syd and rubbed his hands together gleefully. “And while we eat, I’ll regale you with salacious highlights from Madeleine Stevenson: The Lost Episodes.”
Maddie kicked him beneath the table with an audible thud. “Or not,” she added sweetly.
David moaned as he bent over to rub his shin. “Do you mind? I don’t happen to be wearing my lead-lined support hose tonight.”
“As it happens, I very much mind. How about we agree to confine our conversation to topics related to our guest of honor?”
Syd sighed in disappointment. “That’ll certainly be less enthralling.”
Maddie met her eyes. “Not from my point of view.”
They smiled at each other as the server arrived with their first course.
SYD DID HER best, during the meal, to appear attentive and engaged, but her head was reeling.
Syd, I’m gay.
She was unprepared for the onslaught of confusing emotions the simple revelation caused. She felt anxious and overwhelmed.
She wasn’t ready for this. Not now. Not here. Not tonight. She needed time. Time to sort through it all. Time to understand why Maddie’s spare and almost offhand disclosure was so unsettling. Was so distracting. Was so absorbing to the point that she was finding it nearly impossible to pay attention to anything else.
Syd, I’m gay.
Jesus.
David was asking her something. Dessert. It was something about dessert. She anxiously looked at Maddie, and found blue eyes fixed on her. Maddie’s expression was concerned—perplexed.
Maddie reached across the table and touched the top of Syd’s hand. “Are you all right?”
Syd turned her own hand palm up and gave Maddie’s fingers a quick squeeze before retracting her hand and pushing her chair back from the table. “I’m fine.” She turned to David. “Did you say something about dessert in the parlor?”
He was already on his feet. “Yes indeedy. Let’s have our coffee in there. We’ve got a nice fire going, and it’ll be a much more private venue for you to open your presents.”
That got her attention. “Presents? Please tell me you’re joking?”
“Oh, honey, I never joke about presents. They’re sacred.” He looked at Michael. “Aren’t they, baby?”
“Ah, yeah. That would be a big 10-4.” Michael gave Syd an apologetic glance. “My best advice is just to kick back and try to roll with it. It’s fruitless to protest. He’ll just enjoy it more.”
Syd sighed. “I’ve got a very bad feeling about this.”
“Wise woman,” Maddie quipped.
David twirled the ends of his red bow tie. “Enough chatter. Let’s go and see what the birthday fairy has in store for you.”
“Birthday fairy?” Maddie asked.
“Yes. I got a promotion.”
Maddie rolled her eyes. “This promotion didn’t, by chance, come with anything like a special costume,
did it?”
“Don’t worry, Cinderella. The only way you’ll ever get to see my birthday suit is if you shell out about sixty-thousand bucks, and undergo at least four operations.”
“Well, thank god for small mercies.”
He slapped her on the shoulder. “Hey. One thing I can promise you is that there’s nothing small about it.”
They left the table and made their way across the dining room to the hallway that would take them to the front parlor. The crowd had noticeably thinned out, and only a few tables of diners were left. Maddie fell into step beside Syd.
“What’s wrong?” she asked softly. “It’s obvious that you’re distracted.”
Syd met her concerned blue eyes and quickly looked away. Distracted? You think? “I’m okay. I’m just feeling a bit . . . thoughtful.”
“About?”
Syd shrugged. “I’m not sure, exactly. Maybe it’s just the enormity of all of this.”
“This?” Maddie prompted.
Syd absently waved her hand to encompass their surroundings. “This. All of this.” She met Maddie’s eyes again, but didn’t look away this time. “All of you. I can’t take it in. How much my life has changed in just a year.” She shook her head. “In just a few months, really.”
“Is that a bad thing?” Maddie’s tone was tentative.
Syd quickly laid a hand on Maddie’s forearm. “No. No, not at all. It’s a good thing. I’m just a bit overwhelmed right now by all the changes, and by the uncertainty that’s still ahead for me.” She gave Maddie a small smile. “I’m sorry to be so somber when you’re all being so sweet and kind to me. I really am happy to be here with you.” Too happy.
Maddie laid a hand over hers and held it there as they walked the rest of the way to the parlor. “Hold that thought—something tells me you’re going to need it.”
Syd was immediately suspicious. “Do you know something I don’t?”
“Not specifically. But it’s worth remembering that David has Babeland on speed dial.”
Syd stopped dead in her tracks. “Oh, god. Please tell me you’re kidding?”
“Nuh uh.”
Syd closed her eyes in mortification. “If we turn around and run really fast, can we get out of here before he notices?”
Maddie laughed and tugged her forward. “Don’t worry. I’ll be there to protect you.”
Yeah. Having you by my side while I unwrap pleasure aids—that’ll help, all right. “I think I’m going to die.”
“Trust me. If you begin to die, I’ll save you.” She leaned closer and whispered near her ear, “See how useful it is to have an accomplished physician as your escort? It simplifies everything.”
Not everything, Syd thought as the scent of Maddie’s perfume piled up behind her eyes and clouded her vision. “I’ll have to take your word for that.” Her voice sounded husky. Maddie’s proximity was seriously affecting her ability to think straight. Oh, there’s a nice bit of irony.
They entered the small and richly appointed parlor. A small log fire burned in the corner fireplace, with two chairs and a loveseat in front of it. A coffee table sat in front of the chairs, and it held a silver tray that contained coffee cups, a carafe, cordial glasses, and a full bottle of Bailey’s Irish Cream liqueur. David and Michael moved to occupy the two chairs, forcing Syd and Maddie to sit on the small settee.
Maddie’s arm brushed against Syd’s as she reached forward to take a coffee cup from Michael. Syd felt her heart rate accelerate. There’s no way I’m going to survive this, she thought, as she bypassed the coffee and went straight for the Bailey’s.
From the floor behind his chair, David picked up a small tower of wrapped packages and placed them at Syd’s feet. There were four boxes in sizes varying from moderate to very small. Three of them were wrapped in the same, flocked paper and topped with opulent bows. One, the smallest of the group, was more simply appointed.
David pointed at it. “I apologize for the condition of that one. At least she didn’t use duct tape.”
Syd smiled at him and lifted the largest of the boxes onto her lap. It was surprisingly light. With trepidation, she unwrapped it. She lifted the lid off to reveal a dozen, bright orange bags of Cheetos. She sank back against the sofa in relief and laughed, feeling some of the tension drain from her body.
“It’s gonna be a long winter,” David drawled. “I thought you might need these.”
Syd was tempted to rip open a bag right then, but smiled gratefully at him instead. “You’re too kind.” As an afterthought, she added, “I’ll be sure to call you if I run out.”
David’s brown eyes sparkled as he looked back at her. He shot a look at Maddie. “Thankfully, I know where I can get my hands on an inexhaustible supply.”
Maddie rolled her eyes and sipped her coffee.
Syd picked up the next box. It was much smaller, but surprisingly heavy. When she parted the layers of tissue paper inside, the first thing she saw were batteries—lots of them. She quickly replaced the paper. “Do I really want to know what else is in here?” She felt Maddie chuckle.
David leaned forward in his chair. “Go on, go on,” he urged.
After carefully removing the packs of batteries, she lifted out a tissue-wrapped cylinder. It was very heavy. Holding her breath, she slowly unwrapped it, and was relieved when it turned out to be a high-tech, silver flashlight. She dropped it into her lap. “I’m really going to kill you,” she hissed.
“Hey, sometimes you need a little help to find things in the dark.” He winked at her.
She began to set the box aside, but David stopped her with a raised hand.
“Nuh uh. That’s not everything yet.”
She looked at him in confusion.
He sighed. “You will notice that the box contained batteries in two sizes?”
“Here it comes,” Maddie drawled.
“So to speak,” Michael added, in an undertone.
“Oh, god.” Syd had a sinking sense of what was about to befall her before she even drew the last item from the box. It was a smaller, wrapped cylinder. Much smaller. Syd was mortified when she realized that she was holding a tiny, finger-shaped vibrator—a bright pink, finger-shaped vibrator with modular tips and a variable speed dial. “Oh, Jesus,” she muttered as she immediately dropped it back into the dark recesses of the box.
David burst into merry laughter. “Well, if you use it properly, that will always be the response it elicits.”
Syd knew she was probably turning pinker than the vibrator. “I don’t think I can take any more presents right now,” she said, with closed eyes.
Michael handed her the last matching box. “Don’t worry, sweet pea. This one’s from me.”
Syd took it and slowly unwrapped it. It was a book. She turned it over. Oh my god. She flipped it open. It was an autographed first edition copy of Arthur Miller’s screenplay adaptation of Fania Fénelon’s memoir, Playing for Time—the incredible story of a group of Jewish musicians who survived the horrors of Auschwitz by playing in the death camp’s orchestra. She gave Michael a shocked look.
“Where on earth did you find this?”
He smiled at her. “Vintage clothing isn’t the only thing you can find at Mimi’s. You just have to know where to look.”
She rubbed her fingers over Miller’s signature on the bookplate. “I can’t believe this. It’s incredible.”
Michael looked smugly at David, then winked at her. “I thought the content was especially timely, given Phoebe’s efforts at conscripting you to play in the community orchestra.”
She smiled back as she hugged the book to her chest. “Thank you. This is wonderful.”
Maddie leaned closer and gently attempted to pry the book from her hands. “May I?” she asked, from very close range.
Syd turned to look at her, and their faces were only inches apart. It took her a moment to find her voice. “Oh, of course.” She released the book and leaned back away from the intoxicating woman. My god. I need to g
et a grip on myself. Ruefully, it occurred to her that David’s gift might come in handy after all.
Maddie reverently leafed through the pages of the volume. “You know, this is an extraordinary find, but don’t you think it’s a little harsh to compare playing in our community orchestra to internment in a death camp?”
Michael snorted. “Have you ever heard David play the clarinet?”
Maddie paused in her inspection of the book. “Good point.”
“Oh, the two of you can totally kiss my tight, little ass,” David hissed, as he poured himself another hefty shot of the Bailey’s. “Forget about them, Syd. You’ve got one more package to open.”
Sighing, Syd leaned forward and picked up the last, tiny box. It was simply wrapped in silver paper, and tied with a white silk ribbon. She knew it was from Maddie, and her fingers felt thick and clumsy as she tried unsuccessfully to loosen the bow.
David spoke up. “Jeez, Sawbones. What’d you tie it with? 3.0 silk?”
Ignoring him, Maddie gently stilled Syd’s hands and deftly untied the ribbon for her.
Syd’s hands were practically shaking as she unwrapped a small, black velvet box. She shot her eyes up to Maddie’s. Maddie met her gaze evenly and gave her a quiet smile, silently encouraging her to continue.
With trepidation, Syd opened the box. Inside, on a bed of white satin, was a beautiful gold necklace. She took a closer look at it. The pendant was a small, delicate but ornately carved replica of a violin bridge. It was exquisite. A small printed card tucked in the front corner of the box read Heifetz Stradivarius.
She looked at Maddie in disbelief. “This is a replica of the violin bridge from the Stradivarius played by Jascha Heifetz?”
Maddie nodded.
“Oh my god.” Syd shook her head in wonder. “I’ve never seen anything so beautiful.” She met Maddie’s eyes. “I’ve heard of these, but I’ve never actually seen one. Where did you get it?”
Maddie smiled shyly. “It was my grandmother’s. She was a violinist, too, and I know she’d be happy for you to have it now.”
Syd’s jaw dropped in amazement. “I can’t accept this—it’s too much.” She offered the box back to Maddie.