Twice in a Lifetime

by Clare Lydon

  “There you go — three helpers already and I’m sure we could rustle up a few more. If we put in time over the weekends, you’ll be flying.”

  “I can’t put this on you at such short notice, it’s not fair.”

  Taylor held up her hands. “We wouldn’t offer if we weren’t free and happy to do it. Would we?”

  Ben and Kristy shook their heads.

  “There you go. You need help, you’ve got a big order, plus you’re paying us, right?”

  Sally nodded — trust Taylor. “Absolutely. Time and a half.”

  Taylor laughed. “Don’t spend all your money right away. We can work overnight if you provide pizza too, whatever it takes. We’re going to get this order done, okay?”

  Sally sighed, happiness welling up inside her. This was her big break, Taylor was right, and she didn’t want to fuck it up. And the fact her friends were willing to drop everything and come to her aid was incredible, something she wouldn’t be able to replicate anywhere else. Especially not in Chicago.

  Which made her close her eyes all over again. Meeting Harriet again had muddled her life completely. She missed her so much, and talking and texting weren’t filling the gap of personal contact at all. But if she moved to Chicago, she’d have to find a new tribe, and would they be prepared to drop everything to save her skin? This bunch were her true friends, prepared to put their lives on hold when she really, truly needed them.

  It was all too much for Sally to take in. She stood up, knocking over her coffee cup as she did, spilling the remainder on the floor.

  Kristy was by her side in seconds with a mop and bucket.

  “Sorry,” Sally muttered, as Kristy shook her head.

  “Not a problem at all,” she said, fixing Sally with her crystal blue eyes. “And Sally?”

  Sally looked up into her gaze, gulping as she did. “Yes?”

  “Congrats, you deserve this. I love your designs and if I can help, I mean it, I’d like to.”

  “Thank you,” Sally said, and she meant it more than ever. “I’m going back to my office to make an action plan. See you all there at 5.30 and I’ll assign jobs?”

  “I love it when you get all bossy,” Taylor said, giving her a wink. She stood up and followed her out the door, hands in pockets, looking down at the floor. “By the way, I can help you this weekend and next, that’s not a problem, but I can’t do Labor Day weekend: Paula’s flying in and we’ve got plans.” She gave her a shy smile. “Sorry, but this is important. I really like her.”

  Sally shook her head. “I think it’s great you guys are giving it a go. It might mellow her a bit, you never know.”

  “She’s more mellow in private.”

  Sally gave Taylor a look, somehow sensing the same was true for her, too. She had wondered if putting them together might drive them insane, but the opposite had happened, according to Taylor: they’d taken the edge off each other, which was truly remarkable.

  “Who knew she had that side, but I’m glad you’re starting to bring it out of her. I knew she couldn’t be that hyper 24/7.” Sally paused. “I’ve got to go to Chicago that weekend, too — it’s my mom’s birthday and she won’t take no for an answer. Which means I’m going to be up to my ears for the next two weeks trying to get as much done as possible. Harriet and I were hoping we could do this weekend, but I’m going to have to put her off. The deadline for this order is before Labor Day, so at least that will be done.”

  Taylor held up both hands. “This week, I’m all yours.” She paused. “And did I tell you that Paula is talking about investing in me, too? She wants lesbian designers to take over the world.”

  Sally grinned. “She mentioned she might even before you kissed, so I thought it might be a done deal, now.”

  Taylor blushed, which made Sally grin a little more. “I like this side of you, seeing you all flustered. It’s so cute.”

  “I don’t mind it, either,” Taylor replied. “And will you be seeing Harriet in Chicago, too?”

  “I better, it’s been two weeks already since she was here. I knew this would be hard, but it’s been crazy. We agreed to keep it casual, but every time she has to leave, so does a piece of my heart.”

  Sally had missed Harriet so much over the past two weeks, it reminded her of 17 years ago, when Harriet had left then, too, to go to college. Remembering how that had ended didn’t make the modern version any easier to take, because she knew the first time around, those feelings had been futile. Now she was putting her trust in Harriet all over again; she had to hope this time had a different ending.

  “You’ll get the order done, mind over matter,” Taylor said. “Plus, you’ve got a crack team of helpers on the case — and if you need some more, I can make some calls.”

  “I hope you’re right,” Sally said. “Because if I don’t make it, my mom will kill me.” She gave Taylor a slow smile. “Also, now I’ve had sex again, I’d really like it to continue.”

  Taylor mirrored Sally’s smile right back. “Me, too.”

  Chapter Thirty-One

  “So how’s the order coming?” Harriet asked over the phone.

  Sally sipped her coffee from her favorite red mug and leaned back in her chair. Her office had been her home for the past week, and it wasn’t showing any sign of letting up, with her order due to her client next week.

  “It’s coming. Kristy has been a massive help, would you believe, working with me every evening this week, along with her friend Sara. And Kristy’s so talented — I think I’m going to take her on part-time if things work out. We’ve already discussed it and she’s more than happy to.”

  “Even though she’s seen you in the worst of circumstances?”

  Sally gave her a throaty laugh for that. “It could have been so much worse. Imagine if the elevator had righted itself five minutes earlier? You do remember the position we were in and just where my hand was?” A zap of desire hurtled down Sally as she recalled the exact position, up to her elbows in Harriet. She wriggled in her seat as Harriet’s embarrassed laugh rumbled down the phone.

  “That particular scene is etched in my brain and has kept me going through all the long nights without you, of which there have been 19 so far,” Harriet replied. “Not that I’m counting. Much.”

  “I’m sorry I had to cancel on you this weekend, but you understand — this is a big deal and I had to get it right.”

  “It’s fine, I understand. We both run our own businesses, they have to come first. I’m glad I was able to help you out, and who knows, they might come back with an even bigger order after you sent those newer terms back, right?”

  “That’s the hope, but it’s a lot to think about.”

  “I’ll help you,” Harriet said. “You’ll be fine.”

  “Yes, but this is one of the snags of living so far apart: if we were in the same city, at least you could have crawled into my bed last night.”

  “That’s the best offer I’ve had all week.”

  “I hope so,” Sally replied. “But Labor Day weekend, I’m all yours. Well, yours and my family’s.” If there was one thing she was certain of today, it was that. It had been five weeks since they’d decided to give their casual-but-exclusive relationship a go, and so far, it was proving eerily similar to long distance.

  “Okay. And you might want to let your mom know, by the way.”

  “My mom?”

  “Yes, I ran into her at the grocery store. She didn’t even know we were back in touch, let alone that you were coming home for the weekend. Given it’s her birthday and you’re planning to see her, probably best to call her.”

  “I’ve been too busy, it slipped my mind. I always come home, I thought she’d assume.”

  “Do it this week. And if you could put in a word for me, too, that would be great. The look she gave me in the store was less than savory.”

  “She still blames you for breaking my heart at 17.”

  “Wow, we have a lot to make up to our families. Did I tell you my mom thin
ks she made me gay because she likes cars?”

  Sally laughed down the phone. “But you don’t like cars.”

  “Don’t question mother logic,” Harriet replied. “Anyway, I told her we were seeing each other and she said to invite you over for dinner. This is a first by the way, my mom inviting one of my girlfriends over for dinner.”

  “I’m honored,” Sally replied. “But it’s not your mom I’m dying to see, it’s you. Not seeing you sucks.”

  “I agree. So when are you moving to Chicago?”

  “Don’t start, Locke,” Sally replied. It wasn’t like she hadn’t thought about that question every day of late.

  “Just make sure you get on the damn plane this time, okay? I hated not seeing you last weekend.”

  “I promise.”

  “And I meant it about getting you new contacts in Chicago. I’ve been speaking to Dan’s girlfriend, Ava, for instance, and she’s a buyer for Whole Foods. I could easily ask her to put you on her books.”

  “Didn’t you say she only deals with bigger clients? I don’t want you to compromise your business for me.”

  “I’d compromise myself for you any day.”

  “That wasn’t my worry,” Sally said, laughing. “I’ve seen you in action, remember.”

  “Let me ask her, see what she says. I’m sure she’d love your designs.”

  “We’ll see — let’s take it one step at a time.” She didn’t want to get in over her head — this step up was stressing her out enough already.

  “And how are the elevator jokes — still painful?”

  Sally smiled. “It’s done, everyone’s moved on. Everyone except Taylor, of course, who still insists on singing Aerosmith’s “Love In An Elevator” whenever she gets a chance.”

  “Tell Taylor to get back in her box — after all, you found her a girlfriend. She totally owes you.”

  When they’d finished chatting and Sally had hung up, she leaned back to the furthest point her chair would allow, staring at her office’s white ceiling, the black mark that had been there since she began renting the space still staring down at her.

  Should she move back to Chicago? All she knew was long distance was hard. It would mean moving closer to her family and Harriet, which were both pluses.

  However, Casey was back in Chicago; Casey who’d run off, just like Harriet had all those years ago. It was a conundrum that hurt Sally’s head way more than she was comfortable with.

  When she and Casey had imploded all those years ago, she’d fled the city and moved to New York, thinking she could outrun her heart and make a new life for herself here, with fresh options, new work, new women. But she’d just run into the same trouble all over again until she’d freed herself and found this co-op space in Queens. She’d more or less given up on women because that seemed to be the easiest route to take.

  Could she go back, retrace her steps and her life? Her mom would be pleased, she had no doubt about that. Her dad would be thrilled, too. Even her aunt had told her she’d help her buy a place, an offer she wasn’t about to take up in a hurry. Her aunt had already helped her out enough.

  There was no shame in going back, she knew that. Plenty of people did it every day, moved home to be with their family. But she’d never wanted to do that. And when she seriously thought about it, it made her jaw ache, her muscles tense.

  She’d always been fiercely independent, always wanted to do things her way. But had that way worked out exactly as she’d wanted? Not exactly. The thought of her home city flooded her tastebuds with tomato and cheese, with mozzarella sticks, with all the food of her youth. All the food she didn’t eat anymore in New York.

  And then there was Harriet. Who was as beautiful as ever, even more so than Sally remembered. And Harriet wanted to be with her, which Sally was coming around to. But she also wanted her to move back, so they could be together properly, as a couple.

  Was it admitting defeat to go home? She’d always thought if she did, it would be triumphant, when she’d won at business, when she could show everyone that the working-class girl made good. She was on the brink: another year and she might be able to ride her horse home in victory. She had her collective and Kristy was a great addition — moving back now was bad timing for her work and her ego, but what about for her life?

  She guessed she’d have to work out which was more important: her pride or the chance for love.

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  It’d been a brutal week, but with Sally and Kristy pulling a few all-nighters — and Taylor helping out where she could — the cards were done and delivered, two days ahead of schedule. All 1,000 of them — ten stores, 100 cards per store, and that was just for starters. If they took off, she was going to have to do it all again, but there were worse things that could happen. Sally knew this was just a toe in the water, to see if her designs sold. If they did, the sky was the limit.

  And honestly, she couldn’t have done it without Kristy. She was beyond grateful she hadn’t slept with her, otherwise it could have been very awkward.

  Sally had used today to catch up on all her usual orders, and she was just about to start on another batch when the ping of her laptop told her an email had arrived. It was from Luxury Gifts — and when she read it, adrenaline swept through her. She read it through once, twice, and then a third time. And every time she did, the words were the same.

  Her cards were flying off the shelves, and they wanted more for the Labor Day weekend: could she supply them by Friday?

  Sally messaged Kristy and Sara, and they were both on-board. Then she emailed Luxury Gifts to say she could fulfil the order, before sitting back and calculating what it would mean. She assessed her normal orders, but she knew she could switch them up, their supply was good, they could wait.

  But what it did mean was she wasn’t going to be able to make it to Chicago. Again. For the fourth weekend in a row, she wasn’t going to see Harriet. She’d almost forgotten what she looked like, how her lips felt. Almost.

  Plus, she wasn’t going to make her mom’s birthday for the first time ever. But this was her dream, and she knew she had to make sacrifices. Her mom was the call she had to make first.

  She took a deep breath and pressed the button.

  “Hey, sweetie,” her mom said, sounding buoyant.

  “Hey, Mom.”

  “You don’t sound happy.”

  “How can you tell?” Sally was always flummoxed by that — she’d even tried her best to put on her most upbeat voice.

  “A mother knows these things,” her mom replied. “Is it to do with this weekend?”

  Was she psychic? “It is. I’m really sorry, but my orders have gone crazy and I’m not going to be able to make it.” She let out a breath, wincing as she did. She felt like she was letting down everyone important in her life at the moment: Harriet and her mom.

  “Your orders have gone crazy?”

  “They have. But the catch is, they want them for the weekend. I managed to extend the deadline to Saturday, but it’s going to be touch and go.”

  “I think that’s wonderful,” her mom replied.

  Sally frowned. “You do? But it means I won’t be there for your birthday, for the first time ever.”

  “I’ll survive — but this is your dream coming true. You’re making cards and people are loving them! That’s the best birthday present for a proud mom.” She paused. “So long as you send me one, of course.”

  “Of course,” Sally replied. “I really am sorry I won’t make it, though.”

  “You won’t be the only one. I think Harriet might be sad, too,” her mom replied. “Why didn’t you tell me you were seeing her?”

  Sally was silent for a moment: she hadn’t been crowing about it because she wasn’t sure where it was going herself. “Because we’re not seeing each other very often,” she replied. And then a wave of melancholy swept through her. She wanted to see Harriet more often, she knew that, but she just wasn’t prepared to admit what that meant quite yet.<
br />
  “We’re doing long distance, which means we’ve seen each other once in five weeks. It’s not ideal and I’m not sure how to change it.”

  “From what I saw of Harriet in the store, she seemed very positive. Some things are just meant to be. But you might have to give it a helping hand, too.”

  “How do you mean?”

  “You could move home.”

  Sally might have known it would come back to that. “But my business is just taking off in New York — I can’t just walk away.”

  “You could still do business in New York, just from Chicago. We’re living in the 21st century, not the 1960s.”

  “Easier said than done,” Sally said. But then she stopped. Did her mom have a point? “Did Harriet have a word with you?”

  Her mom laughed. “She didn’t need to — she had the same face she had all those years ago when she spoke about you. Her whole face lit up. Doesn’t she want you to move home?”

  “Of course she does, but she’s not pushing it.”

  “I’m not either, but just think about it. It makes sense. And I know you worry about your workmates and losing them, but your family are here, Harriet would help you, and you’d meet new designers and artists. New York isn’t the only place to fulfil your dreams. Just think about that.” Her mom paused. “If you really want to give me the ultimate birthday gift, come home. And I know Harriet would say the same.”

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  Harriet was late into the office. When she walked in, Joanna’s face spelt thunder — and it was about to boom.

  “About time you turned up,” she said, pacing their brightly lit space, narrowing her eyes at her partner.

  “I’m ten minutes late, take a chill pill,” Harriet said, turning on her laptop and frowning at Joanna. “What’s bitten your ass this morning?”

  “Funny you should ask, lover girl,” Joanna replied.

  Harriet sat down with a thump, holding up her right hand. “Slow down, please, and tell me what this is all about. ‘Lover girl’? What the hell does that mean?”