Page 32 of Lakeside Longing
“You what?”
“I know you don’t want to hear it, but this is real. This isn’t an affair where the appeal of it all is the sneaking around. Both of us wanted to tell you.”
Her mother leaned back against the headrest as she sighed. “Quinn, I’m not trying to be difficult. I just want you to be happy.”
“I am. I’m happier than I’ve ever been.”
“But the age difference…”
Quinn shook her head. “It’s irrelevant.”
Her mother didn’t say anything, but she didn’t shut the door and drive away either. Eventually, she spoke, but it was so soft that Quinn wondered if she’d imagined it.
“I miss my best friend, and I miss my daughter.”
Quinn bit the inside of her cheek when her mother turned to her with tears in her eyes. “Can we come to Thanksgiving? Together?”
Her mother inhaled a deep breath. “I never told your father or Reagan.”
Quinn nodded. “I thought you wouldn’t.”
“This might be more shocking than coming out.”
“I know.” Quinn shoved her hands in her coat pocket. “Can we come to Thanksgiving?” she asked again.
This time her mother answered with a simple nod. “I’d like that.” She sighed softly as she turned to look up at her. “It’s going to take me a while to get used to this.”
“I get that.”
“But I will try.”
Quinn felt a smile tugging at her lips, hoping that the worst of this was over, because she wanted nothing more than to go to her parents’ house for Thanksgiving and Christmas and have Rebecca there with her.
There was really only one thing left to do.
She had to come out to the world.
EPILOGUE
Rebecca fidgeted with the lapels of her blazer as she stood in the green room. She always felt a little out of place in these settings, worlds away from her normal, every day life in rural upstate New York. But she was here for Quinn.
A buzz of anticipation hummed through her as she watched the TV on the wall. Quinn came out in a black dress that showed off her figure and greeted the host with a practiced ease. She acknowledge the audience as she made her way to her seat beside the host’s desk.
Rebecca couldn’t wait to ring in the New Year with Quinn by her side, and when this interview was over, that was exactly what they were going to do.
Rebecca had no idea how she could make this look so easy. The playful banter, the quick remarks, and then they were talking about her latest movie.
Quinn listened as the host gave some background about the movie, and then he asked her, “So I know actors have to research certain roles or spend some time with people who have been through the experiences of your character. I’m curious, what did you do to prepare yourself for this role? I know a lot of actorsreceive some criticism for playing gay characters, and that’s not what I’m doing here. I think you did an amazing job, and I’m curious what preparations went into it.”
Quinn’s smile could light up a room. “Well, if I’m being totally honest, I didn’t have to do much. This role taught me more about myself than any preparation for it could. While I was filming this movie, I realized that I wasn’t a straight woman playing a queer character. I was a lesbian playing a queer character.”
The audience erupted into a mix of applause and cheers along with a few gasps. Or maybe that gasp had been her own.
Rebecca sunk down into the sofa, her mouth falling open.
“Did you just come out right here on my show?” the host asked with a grin.
“I think I just did,” Quinn answered with a charming smile of her own.