No Strings Attached (The Pink Bean Series Book 1) (25 page)

Besides, this was nothing compared to this coming weekend, when Olivia and Christopher would be home and Robin would come over for dinner.

“You’re certainly very pretty,” Gina said.

Micky had to giggle. Oh yes, her mother was very tense. But Micky was a mother herself, and even though she’d never been in a situation like this with one of her children—having to adjust to one aspect of your child’s life being so different than you’d always believed—she felt for her mother. She wished they could skip to the second meeting, when the initial awkwardness would be out of the way, and they could truly learn how to behave around each other.

Micky could almost see how Robin was turning on the charm. She curled her lips into that bright, dazzling smile and said, “And I can certainly see where Micky gets her good looks from.”

Gina was definitely a woman who prided herself on her looks, even more so as she progressed in age, but she wasn’t that shallow that just someone telling her she looked good would win her over. At least, Micky hoped, it would set the tone for the rest of the conversation, and they could take it from there.

“Micky tells me you lived in Hong Kong and Singapore. I visited Hong Kong with my husband years ago. He’d always wanted to go. What a crazy, crazy place.”

“It’s madness,” Robin replied, and just like that, they had found some common ground and the ice was broken.

“She’s really nice,” her mother said while Robin had excused herself to use the washroom. “So charming and well-spoken.” She made a low humming noise in her throat. “Which reminds me of someone.”

“Please don’t say Darren. On the surface, there might be some similarities, but they’re nothing alike, really.”

“I can certainly see where they differ, dear. I have eyes in my head,” Gina said smugly.

“Thanks for doing this, Mom. It means a lot to me.”

“You don’t need to thank me for meeting your new partner. I’m your mother. Of course it helps that my daughter’s been smiling from ear to ear since she walked into my house.” She put her hand over Micky’s. “I’m happy for you. I really am.”

Robin came back from the washroom, sat down at the table with them, and another, different kind of happiness washed over Micky. Perhaps she had Amber to thank for this as well, for leading by example and for showing Micky’s mother that there’s absolutely nothing wrong with being gay. Dear, dear Amber. Micky made a mental note to push her to go out with Martha already.

✶ ✶ ✶

Of all the people Micky had to introduce Robin to, her children were the ones she was most worried about. She was turning her from a mere notion into a woman of flesh and blood. Olivia and Christopher had only ever seen Micky with Darren, their father
and
a man. To become someone else, to be forever changed, in her children’s eyes was the biggest challenge. By bringing Robin into their home, Micky wasn’t only admitting to being a lesbian, she was also boldly stating that she was a human being with sexual interests, a thought that might not align itself well with being their mother.

Thankfully, after having a casual chat with Liv and Chris at The Pink Bean over muffins and juice, Sheryl had given Micky some
literature on sex-positive parenting
, which Micky had pored over but hadn’t truly sunk in yet. What she’d taken away the most from the books Sheryl had pressed into her hands, was that Micky still had a lot left to learn herself.

Micky hadn’t asked Amber to join her this time. They were
her
children, and she could do this alone. Yet, when the bell rang on Saturday evening to announce Robin’s arrival, her heart leapt into her throat. Knowing very well who was standing outside their house waiting to be let in, Olivia didn’t rush out of her seat and yell that she would get it. Micky hurried to the front door, and as it opened, the biggest ball of nerves uncoiled in her stomach. It wasn’t so much that she automatically, magically, expected her children to like Robin just because she did, but just seeing her, having her near, gave her a confidence that had always been so foreign to her.

They hugged, and Micky inhaled Robin’s familiar scent, bolstering her confidence even more.

“I just brought this.” Robin held up a bottle of wine. “I had no idea what to bring for kids their age.”

“No need. They’re spoiled enough as it is.”

“I thought I’d be less nervous after having met your mother this week, but I’m really tense. It feels like going on a job interview for a start-up run by people half my age. I feel like I need to be down with the kids, you know?”

“Relax. They’re not monsters. I raised them, remember?”

“Off we go then.” Robin squared her shoulders and walked into the living room.

Christopher jumped out of his seat. He’d insisted on wearing a pristinely ironed dress shirt, even though Micky had assured him that was by no means necessary, which had earned him more scorn from his sister. He offered Robin his hand, but Robin sidestepped him and pulled him into a hug.

Micky hadn’t had a long conversation with Robin about this meeting the way she had before she’d taken Robin to meet her mother because some things simply needed to happen more organically. She’d told her about her children’s characters, shown her treasured pictures from when they were younger, but she hadn’t advised Robin on how to behave around them. Micky was sure Robin could figure that out herself.

Olivia had risen from the sofa as well and stood fidgeting uneasily with her hands. She wasn’t wearing her usual teenage facade of indignation.

“Hi, Olivia.” Robin pulled Liv into a hug as well, and Micky remembered how frightened she had always been of this moment. How the prospect of this was one of the biggest obstacles she’d had to overcome on this journey. And now there she stood. No matter how this evening played out, the most difficult part was already over. Robin was there in the house she shared with her children. They would eat a meal together—Micky had made macaroni and cheese because it was the kids’ favorite—and chat and start their lives together as an out-of-the-ordinary family perhaps, but one that was a million times happier than the one Micky had broken up when she’d asked Darren for a divorce. Not that any amount of her personal happiness could ever undo that dreadful moment when she’d had to sit across from her children and tell them their mother and father didn’t want to be together anymore. But this was life, and now they knew.

Micky could try to protect them all she wanted, could try to keep them stashed in a cocoon of fabricated, put-upon happiness and hope they wouldn’t notice, but what service would that do them in the end?

They sat down at the table, and Chris made a display of pouring Robin and Micky a glass of red wine, and Olivia didn’t even roll her eyes at him.

“When can I try some, Mom?” Chris asked, pointing at the wine.

“On your next birthday,” Micky said, looking at her boy who was growing up so damn fast. “If you’re lucky.”

“Last time I asked, you said I could have a small glass on
your
next birthday, which is only a month away, Mom, so I might as well have some now. This is a special occasion, isn’t it?”

Robin grinned. “You have excellent negotiating skills, Christopher.”

“If he’s having some, I’m having some,” Liv butted in.

As the conversation carried on, Micky realized that this was all so much easier than she had always believed it would be. The biggest hurdle had always been the one in her head.

“Mom?” Liv said.

“Yes, honey.”

“Can we have some wine or not?”

Micky shook her head. “No, darling, you can’t. You’re too young.” They could try to play her all they wanted, Micky was still their mother, and she knew when to put her foot down.

CHAPTER THIRTY

“I used to come here at least twice a week,” Micky said. She looked out over the ocean. It was her forty-fifth birthday, and Robin had taken the afternoon off to spend some alone time with her before the party tonight with her children, mother, and friends. Micky hadn’t taken the morning off from serving coffee because it seemed like such an essential part of her by then. To wake up every weekday morning with a clear purpose: go to work. It wasn’t the work itself, though Micky enjoyed that, too. She liked the customer interaction and picking up twenty-something lingo from Josephine and watching how Kristin stalked around the place, always with a sense of pride about her. She loved what the place had done for her, the confidence it had brought her and, more than anything, the woman it had introduced her to.

With Robin by her side, the ocean seemed a little bluer, the caps of the waves a little whiter. It was cold but sunny—the exact weather Micky would have ordered from the weather gods for her birthday if she could have.

“Remember when you took me to Bondi beach?” Robin leaned into her a little, warming Micky’s flank. “You were so hot for me that day. You were basically squirming on your beach towel all afternoon.”

“And you knew and loved it.”

“Well, you know,” Robin leaned her head on Micky’s shoulder, “it’s not every day I get to seduce a housewife from Mosman.”

They both chuckled and inhaled greedily because the air was always so different by the ocean. Micky had come there on her forty-fourth birthday as well, although then it was more out of lack of official celebration than anything else. She’d just signed the divorce papers a few months earlier and was still living in the house her children had grown up in. And, like every year, Micky had—foolishly—asked the ocean, “Where will I be one year from now?” This year, when the question flitted through her mind, not a trace of desperation, of desire for drastic change, clung to it. Micky had taken the leap. She had followed her best friend’s advice, and there she stood, staring into the waves while all her dreams were coming true.

“I love you,” Micky said, for the very first time to another woman in this context. It didn’t feel as monumental as she had expected, perhaps because the entire year of leading up to her forty-fifth birthday had been one of firsts. Yet, the words made a warm glow erupt underneath her skin.

“I love you too, vixen.” Robin had taken to calling her that in private as an inside joke. “And I have a birthday present for you.” Robin turned to her. “I’ve known for a couple of days, but I waited to tell you until today. Next week, I’ll be signing a new contract at work. One that keeps me here for at least two more years after this one’s up.”

Micky brought a hand to her mouth. She threw her arms around Robin and pulled her close while the crashing of the waves roared in her ears.

THE END

Book Two in The Pink Bean Series will be available at the end of 2016.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

While writing this book I suffered, for the very first time, from something I hesitantly refer to as ‘writer’s block’. As a writer, when the words fail to come, it can be a big blow to your confidence. It’s when my self-esteem is at its lowest that I rely on the beautiful, endlessly optimistic, kind person that is my wife the most. Without her, none of my books would ever have been written, but this one surely wouldn’t have.

Special mention to my Sydney-based beta-reader Sarah, to my now regular beta-reader Carrie, and to new girl on the block, Laura. I greatly value your time and input.

Thank you also, Claire, for once again going on a typo-hunt for me.

I worked with my new editor Jason for the first time and his enthusiasm for the book, especially after I had such a hard time finishing it, bolstered my confidence… and his edits taught me a thing or two about grammar and spelling according to the Chicago Manual of Style, which is much appreciated.

I must also have the best and fastest Launch Team in the world, what with the way some of them read every new book in less than a day, and email me the sweetest comments. Your reviews and support help me and my books so much.

And, as always, endless gratitude to my Readers, for making each book a bigger success than the last. This journey I’m on is so rewarding and, frankly, bewildering, and none of it would be possible without you.

Thank you.

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