“Well, it looks like everything is in order and I’ll email you the PDF that you need to sign for the supervising physician document. With that, all that is left for me to say is that we look forward to working with you Lily.”
“I look forward to working with your agency and thank you for your time.”
I close my laptop, look down at my pajama bottoms, and grin.
When I’m in the kitchen to fix lunch for Nona and myself, Abbie calls. I push aside the feeling of missing my friend in favor of being so happy to see her number pop up on my phone. Tapping the earbud in my ear, I don’t get a chance to say anything before she launches into it, greeting me first.
“Lily, Lily, Lily! I miss you!!!”
“Oh my God Abbie, I miss you too!” My eyes surprise me when they fill with a few tears.
“Tell me how boring Nebraska is.”
“Very funny Abbie—besides, you know how much I love boring things.”
“So true. Have you started unpacking?”
“Barely. I’m working on it—as much as I want to procrastinate, I want to make my room into my own and not just somewhere that I’m visiting, you know?”
“That’s smart. What else is the news of the day?”
“Well, I may have a job already.” I can’t help but smile as I say it.
“Damn girl, that was fast. Why does that make it seem more official that you are a Nebraskan now?”
“More than the fact that I’ve moved twelve hundred miles away. And out here we are called Cornhuskers, thank you very much.”
“Oh my God, Lily, that’s too many miles.”
“I know. You’re welcome to join me anytime. To visit…or live.”
“I’m sure your grandmother would love having a Catholic lesbian move in.”
“First of all, you’ve told me you are an ex-Catholic. Also, I know for a fact she’d love you. Besides, there’s a wonderful queer community here. I’m just saying.”
“Yes, well I’m not about to move in with you and Rose when you know perfectly well you may end up somewhere else.”
“Abbie, I’ve told you, he isn’t interested in me that way. I’m not moving to Colorado.”
“You wanna bet?”
“Not really. But Abbie, you don’t know how he was at Hanukkah. He ignored me the entire night. I was nervous about how uncomfortable we would be around our families but he was an asshole.”
“Lily, that’s what you get for being a hetero—you have to deal with men. And are you still punishing him? Have you responded to his messages?”
“Not yet. I’ve left him on read.”
“That actually may be growth—for you.”
“Very funny. You and I both know I’m being childish. The thing is, I thought we were friends.”
“Lily. I love you but I can tell you right now, I could not have a friend that is that hot and just be friends.”
“Gee, thanks Abbie, tell me how you really feel.”
“Ew, you’re like a sister to me. Don’t make jokes about that again.”
I laugh, and it feels wonderful.
