Chapter 7

“Lilian Stewart,” Lily answered enthusiastically, recognizing the number on her display.

“Good morning, Lily. How are you?” Anna’s voice was syrupy sweet.

“Hey, good for you, Amazon! Your social skills are really coming along.”

“Don’t let it get out. Others might raise their expectations.”

“I’ll keep it just between us. What’s up? By the way, I really had a great time yesterday. I know I said that already, but I’m still thinking about it.”

“Yeah, me too. And Kim called just a few minutes ago to make it an open invitation whenever you want, so all you have to do is speak up.”

Lily looked at her calendar. After Kidz Kamp, she was due a trip to San Jose. “Maybe we can do it again in a few weeks. I need to go up and see Mom soon.”

“Which brings me to another question... I was wondering if—hypothetically speaking, of course—a person were to decide to go, say... camping, what sorts of camping equipment that person might require? Hypothetically, of course.”

Lily sat up, very excited at where this conversation seemed to be headed. “I don’t think one would need a lot. Perhaps only a sleeping bag, a day pack, some good hiking boots and a few odds and ends to enhance one’s comfort.” She paused and added, “Hypothetically, of course.”

“Of course. So if one were to—hypothetically—decide she needed such equipment, where might she find help in selecting the right things?”

“Oh, I think someone might be available on Wednesday night to escort such a person to an outfitter store for said items.”

“Six thirty?”

“Six thirty it is.”

Lily hung up the phone and twirled all the way around in her chair. Then she jumped up and walked briskly down the hall to Tony’s office. Sailing through his open door, she delivered the good news. “I’ve got another woman for Silverwood Lake.”

“Who is it?”

“You remember my friend from the earthquake, the woman who stopped in last week to go to lunch with me?”

“Anna? Believe me, no guy is going to forget somebody like her.”

She didn’t like the sound of that. Tony wasn’t particularly handsome, but he had a charming way about him that ladies loved. “She’ll be riding up with me, and I need to ask you a big favor.”

“Sure. Name it.”

“I want you to... lay off.”

He gave her a confused look. “You mean lay off Anna? As in don’t ask her out?”

“Exactly. She’s just been through a tough divorce and guys have been giving her a hard time.” Anna had proven she could take care of herself, but Lily didn’t want her to feel uncomfortable, especially with someone from her office. “I want her to just have a nice, relaxing weekend.”

He nodded. “No problem. I’ll be a perfect gentleman.”

She softened, hoping she hadn’t sounded too bossy. “I’m sure you’re always a perfect gentleman. I just don’t want her to feel any pressure.”

“She won’t, Lily. And I’m glad she’s going.”

“Me too.”

She returned to her office, glad for the way the conversation had gone. What a mess it would have been if Tony had hit on her. Anna needed a break from pushy guys.

 

The RAV4 picked its way along the wooded road until they reached the campsite. Anna counted three men and six boys already at work unloading tents and setting up the cooking supplies. One of the men was Tony, Lily’s boss, whom she had met the other day.

“We have to hustle,” Lily said. “It’ll be dark soon, but getting a hot meal on the first night in camp gets the weekend off to a good start.”

“That makes sense,” Anna said. The trip to Silverwood Lake, north of San Bernardino, had taken nearly three hours, most of that spent navigating LA traffic to exit the city. Lily said this was their favorite campsite, because it had everything the kids liked to do—fishing, swimming, hiking and canoeing. Anna decided she liked it too when she spotted the restrooms nearby.

She had grown increasingly uneasy as they drove farther from the city. After the shopping trip with Lily, she had come to terms with leaving behind the comforts of home. What had her on edge today were the three girls in the backseat. Rosa and Carlotta were eleven-year-old twins who giggled and whispered to each other in Spanish. Lateisha, a nine-year-old African-American girl, kept to herself, staring out the window lost in thought. Lily engaged the twins in occasional dialogue, asking about school, their friends and things they liked to do. But Anna held back. She doubted anyone on this trip besides Lily had any interest in hearing from a mechanical engineer who lived in Bel Air and sold luxury cars. So like Lateisha, she too retreated in silence.

“I’ll get the twins to help me set up the tent,” Lily said. “Why don’t you and Lateisha get the supplies out of the back? You can stack the food stuff by that big picnic table, and everything else over by the tent.”

“Okay.” Though apprehensive about being alone with this quiet child, Anna was glad to be doing something other than just sitting. Staying busy would make the weekend pass more quickly.

She opened the hatchback and tried to make sense of what belonged where. When Lateisha walked closer, Anna broke the ice. “Have you ever been camping before?”

The girl simply shook her head.

“Well, this is my first time too. I guess we both have a lot to learn this weekend.” When Lateisha didn’t reply, Anna knew she would have to think of something more engaging. “How about giving me a hand with this cooler? It’s pretty heavy for just one person.” Together, they hauled their load to where Tony had stacked the cooking supplies.

“Anna, good to see you again,” Tony said, holding out his hand for a shake. “Who’s your helper there?”

“This is Lateisha. She’s pretty strong for a nine-year-old. It’s a good thing, too, because I couldn’t have carried this cooler by myself.” The small girl finally gave a shy smile, the first sign to Anna that she was breaking through.

“I can see how strong she is. If you need any extra help from me, just let me know.”

“Oh, I think we’ll manage.” They headed back to the RAV4 to finish their task.

While she worked to organize the cooking gear, Tony introduced her to the other leaders, Jack and Matthew. Jack was an intake officer from the juvenile detention facility. Four of the boys on this trip were his charges, he explained, because they had gotten into trouble over shoplifting, vandalism or fighting in school. The other man, Matthew, was Jack’s brother-in-law. Lily said she loved it when these two came along, because they brought their two canoes.

Tony’s two boys, like Lateisha and the twins, were in foster placement. Most of the kids were from troubled backgrounds, he explained, often with behavior problems. No wonder Lily had wanted another woman to come along.

Two hours after reaching the campsite, everyone was relaxing around an open fire.

“Excellent spaghetti, Tony,” Lily said, patting her tummy.

“Thank you, thank you. Hold your applause.”

One of the boys stood to toss his paper plate into the fire. “How come you had to cook? They should have cooked,” he said, gesturing toward Anna and Lily.

Tony laughed. “For one thing, I like to cook. And for another, we all take turns doing different jobs. It doesn’t matter if you’re a man or a woman.”

“But it’s women’s work.”

“If I thought that way, I’d starve to death, because I live by myself.”

“Then you need a wife,” the boy argued.

“You’re right. I need one to make my family photos prettier, but I don’t need one to cook.”

Anna’s respect for Tony was skyrocketing.

Lily leaned over and whispered in her ear. “Sandy threw a fit a couple of years ago because the men all acted like the women should wait on them. She refused to go again unless everyone rotated jobs.”

“Good for her.”

“Good for everybody. It won’t hurt these boys to gain a little respect for what their mothers have to do. By the way, we’re in charge of breakfast for the next two days.”

“Is there a drive-thru around here?”

Lily chucked her rib with an elbow. “Does this mean you don’t cook?”

“You’re about to find out. You and a dozen other unfortunate people.”

Shortly after ten, the children were sent into the tents to settle in, while the five adults planned the next day. Jack and Matthew wanted to take their boys fishing first thing then hiking in the afternoon. The others opted to explore the nature trail in the morning, and swim in the afternoon if it warmed up.

Crawling into their tent, Lily and Anna discovered the twins had moved their sleeping bags to the right side, while Lateisha had moved hers all the way to the left. That left them to squeeze into the middle, side by side.

As they settled in, Carlotta spilled her sister’s secret. “Rosa’s afraid of the dark.”

“We know what it’s like to be in the dark, don’t we?” Lily asked, nudging Anna.

“I think you should tell the girls that story.”

“Good idea.” Minus a few gruesome details, Lily related their story of being trapped together in the mall, and finding their way out in the darkness. “I used to sleep with a light on at night, but since the earthquake, I haven’t needed it anymore.”

Getting no reply, Anna realized all three girls had fallen asleep. “Well, I certainly enjoyed hearing the story again.”

“Me too.”

In the night, a small hand shook Anna awake. “I have to go the bathroom,” Lateisha squeaked.

“I’ll go with you.” Anna fumbled with the zipper, trying to make as little noise as possible.

They found the flashlight and their shoes, and walked quietly to the nearby restroom. Without a word, they took care of their business and made their way along the path back to the tent, where the others were still asleep. “Goodnight, Lateisha,” she whispered.

Several moments passed, leaving Anna to wonder why the girl was so shy. Finally, she heard a quiet reply of “goodnight.”

 

Lily twisted and jerked, frustrated that her feet were trapped under the covers. It took her a few seconds to remember she was in a sleeping bag, and to recognize the sound of voices outside the tent. She sat up to discover she was alone, and the light streaming in through the flapping zipper told her it was morning. She tugged on her boots and crawled to the opening, not believing the sight. Nine children and three grown men were lined up with their mess kits, each getting a heaping dose of oatmeal and brown sugar from the Amazon Chef. She hurriedly grabbed her kit and scrambled to the back of the line.

“Wow! Who does your hair?” Anna said with a broad smile.

“I suppose you crawl out of bed looking like Cinderella every morning.” Suddenly self-conscious, she reached up to flatten her locks as Anna filled her plate and presented her with a piping hot cup of coffee.

“Hardly... more like Sleeping Beauty.” Anna filled her own plate last and followed Lily in search of a seat. “I think I’ll sit with Lateisha,” she said, indicating a spot next to the girl on a fallen log near the edge of the campsite.

Lily had to hand it to Anna for her continued efforts to reach out. Sullen children like Lateisha were tough nuts to crack, but every now and then, a special person came along and broke through. From what she knew about Lateisha, the girl didn’t need saving, like Eleanor Stewart had saved her. Lateisha’s father was eager to take care of her, as soon as his overseas tour in the army ended.

Everyone looked up suddenly as Lateisha began to sob. Anna quickly took the girl in her arms, stroking her braided hair as she rocked her back and forth. Lily started toward them, but Anna held up a hand. Whatever the problem was, she had it under control. Five minutes later, the girl had calmed and was talking freely with Anna.

“What was that all about?” Lily whispered as they stowed their trash in preparation for a hike.

“Her mother just died. That’s why she’s so sad.”

Lily couldn’t believe she was hearing this for the first time. “I knew she was waiting for her dad to get out of the service, but social services didn’t say anything about her mother. No wonder she’s been so quiet.”

“Yeah, I told her my mother died too when I was a little girl. I know exactly how she feels. At least I had my father.”

“Poor girl.”

“Maybe she’ll loosen up a little now that she told somebody. I’ll stick close to her.”

“You’re good with her, Anna. She’s lucky she met you this weekend.” Lily was glad Lateisha had found a friend, but she knew Anna too would be richly rewarded for reaching this troubled child. These were the treasures Lily pursued when she worked with children and families in trouble. No amount of monetary compensation was worth the feeling she got when she knew she was making a difference in someone’s life.

When the group set out on their nature hike, the sight of Anna holding the small child’s hand triggered in Lily an emotional groundswell. She had never met anyone like Anna Kaklis.

Lunch that day was hotdogs, chips and cookies, always a hit with the kids. If Lily had worried Anna might not like the outdoor cuisine, she needn’t have bothered. She and Lateisha piled their plates high and retreated to their fallen log. In fact, Anna was coming off like an old hand with this camping stuff.

In the afternoon, the boys decided to brave the cold water and go swimming. Lily and Anna commandeered the two canoes for a trip across the lake.

“This isn’t as easy as it looks,” Anna called. She and Lateisha were struggling to avoid several low branches that hung over the water directly in their path. Anna paddled one way while Lateisha paddled the other, and now they were hopelessly trapped.

“Maybe not, but you’re certainly entertaining,” Lily answered smugly. From the other canoe, she and the twins were howling with laughter at their predicament, and that seemed to make Anna even more determined to get out of the mess. She stood unsteadily, reaching for a branch to push them away from the shoreline. Unfortunately, Lateisha chose that instant to drop her oar in the water and push off from the sandy bottom. With a scream, Anna toppled head first into the freezing water.

Lily’s first instinct was to laugh, but she fought it, rowing quickly to her fallen friend. Barely containing a grin, she watched Anna splash around to find her footing. “Are you hurt?”

“N-n-n-no!” Anna shivered as she stood waist-deep in the water.

Lily rowed closer and leaned over the side, asking in a voice so low only Anna could hear, “Is the water cold, or are you just glad to see me?”

In a lightning quick moment, Anna lunged toward her and grabbed her by her waistband and collar. “Oh, I’m glad to see you all right!” Lily found herself upside down in a somersault into the lake.

When she came up, Rosa and Carlotta were looking at her in shock.

Anna had pulled her canoe from the overhanging trees and aimed it toward the campsite. With a push, she climbed in and grabbed a paddle. “Row for your life, Lateisha!”

“You better paddle faster, Amazon! When I catch you, you’re going to be sorry you were ever born.”

All three little girls shrieked with laughter as her threats continued. Anna and Lateisha reached the shore and dragged their canoe from the water, and Anna ran into the women’s tent.

“Where is that Amazon?” Lily bellowed, feigning anger for the girls’ benefit. Rushing into the tent, she found Anna kneeling topless with her back to the zippered entry. Oddly speechless, Lily stopped dead in her tracks.

“Gotcha,” Anna said without turning, pulling a sweatshirt over her head.

The game momentarily forgotten, Lily blushed as she recognized the lustful sensations that overwhelmed her as she glimpsed the muscled expanse of Anna’s back. Without a word, she moved to her bag to find some dry clothes.

“You’re not angry, are you?” Anna asked.

“Are you kidding? I bet those girls haven’t had that much fun in years.” And Lily couldn’t remember the last time she had forgotten how to speak.

 

Anna walked with Lateisha to the door of her apartment and knocked. “You have my number?”

The little girl patted her pocket.

Remembering how Lily lost her number, Anna said sternly, “Put it in a safe place when you get to your room, okay? And I want you to call me every Sunday until your father gets home. Deal?”

An elderly woman came to the door. “Did you have a good time?”

Lateisha nodded and started into the apartment.

“Hey, wait a minute.” Anna squatted and opened her arms. Lateisha rushed back and gave her a powerful hug. “You be sweet. And don’t lose my phone number.”

“Thank you for taking her,” the woman said.

“We were glad to have her.” Anna returned to the SUV to find Lily beaming. “What?”

“Nothing.” Lily wiped her eyes.

“Are those tears?”

“That was so sweet.”

Anna rolled her eyes. “What? You thought I was made of stone?”

“I know you didn’t really want to come, but your being with us on this trip was the best thing that could have happened to her.”

“I liked her. She’s a sweetheart, and I understand what she’s going through.”

“I’ll bet you make a great mother one of these days. If that’s what you want, that is.”

“Funny you should say that. I got a call from my ex-husband on Friday before I left work. He wanted to let me know he’s getting married again.”

“He sure didn’t waste any time.”

“He’s marrying the mother of his child, whom he probably should have married in the first place.”

“Are you okay with it?”

Anna kept most of her feelings about Scott to herself because she didn’t want people to judge him harshly, but she felt comfortable talking with Lily about anything. “To be honest, I was sort of perturbed when he first told me. I don’t really know why, though. I don’t have those kinds of feelings for him anymore.”

“What do you think it was?”

“I think maybe I was a little bit jealous. He’s getting a whole family, like the one I thought he’d have with me.”

“I can see how that would bother you.”

“Yeah, but I’ll get over it. I suppose I’ll have kids one of these days. I just hate the whole trial and error thing about marrying a suitable father.”

“Who says you have to? There are lots of ways to have kids.”

Anna had thought about alternatives a few years ago when she worried about missing the best of her childbearing years. “I wouldn’t rule that out. What about you? You’re good with kids.”

“I’m particularly fond of other people’s kids,” Lily said. “I wouldn’t mind raising one, but I don’t have any burning desire to give birth.”

“Lucky you’re a lesbian then. I’d have a hell of a time finding a husband who was willing to go through that.”

 

Lily was in trouble and she knew it. What she now felt for Anna was well past simple friendship, and she was on her way to having her heart broken. It was only a matter of time.

On Saturday night, she picked up Chinese food and headed to Sherman Oaks to have dinner with Sandy and Suzanne. She had reluctantly turned down a movie offer with Anna because she had been neglecting her friends for weeks. Suzanne was almost fully recovered from her back surgery, and eager to get back to work.

“Are you insane?” Suzanne erupted when Lily confessed she was falling for Anna.

“It’s not like I can help it, Suzanne. She’s smart and interesting. She makes me laugh. She’s kind and generous.” Lily wanted to add beautiful to the list, but knew that would make Suzanne’s tirade even worse. “You should have seen her last week with one of our foster children. That girl had hardly said a word in three months, and by the time we dropped her off at home, they were best friends. Anna even gave the kid her phone number.”

Sandy put the last of the dishes in the dishwasher and sat down next to her at the kitchen table. “Suzanne’s right, Lily. Anna’s going to break your heart all to pieces. It’s not that she can’t be a good friend to you. She obviously already is, and the two of you shared an incredible experience in that mall. But you know she can’t return the feelings you have for her. You’re only going to hurt yourself by pursuing this.”

“I’m not pursuing anything,” Lily argued. They were right, but she couldn’t bear to think of backing away from the first woman in ages whose companionship she really enjoyed.

She managed to listen politely as Suzanne explained her plans for renovating the downstairs bathroom, all the while thinking miserable thoughts about Anna breaking off their friendship because she crossed the line. After an almost somber good-bye, she grabbed her jacket and headed for home.

 

Anna adjusted the entries in her spreadsheet and re-charted the figures. Third quarter sales were up eleven percent over last year, thanks to the early appearance of next year’s models. At this rate, Premier would have its best year ever.

Her father appeared in the doorway to her office. “Are you planning on staying all night?”

“I could ask you the same question. How come you’re still here?”

“I was talking with Brad about the sales force. He thinks we ought to... what was it he said... add a little diversity. I think if we’ve got sales openings, they should go to whoever is most qualified. Anything else seems like discrimination to me.”

Anna was glad to hear Brad had broached the topic with her father, who had been out of the hiring loop for quite some time. It was her idea to bring in more diversity, especially since two of her top three salespeople were minorities, and the third was a woman. “It makes good business sense to have a diverse sales force, Dad. People want to feel like their dealer is a part of their community.”

“I understand that. But this is Beverly Hills, not Chinatown.” He took a seat in one of the wingback chairs across from her desk.

“We’re more than Beverly Hills, though. We’re the top BMW dealer in Southern California. People come from all over the region to shop here. How would you feel if you went into a dealership and everyone working there was Mexican?”

“I’d turn around and walk out.”

“Why?”

“Because I’d figure those cars were for Mexicans, not fat, old, cranky Greek guys.”

“You’re not that fat.”

“This is all your doing, isn’t it?”

“Yes,” she said, grinning with satisfaction. “We’re spending a lot of money on advertising to get people in here to look at our cars. I want everyone who walks in that door—man, woman, white, Asian, Hispanic—to feel like the BMW is for people like them.”

His face was twisted in a smirk. “What’s next? We’re going to have child care?”

“Maybe. If it helps our business, why not?”

“So how come you’re not out with Hal and Kim tonight?”

“They’re spending the night on the boat. Three’s a crowd. I wanted to catch a movie with Lily, but she’s having dinner with friends tonight.”

“Lily... you’re seeing a good bit of her since you ran into each other.”

“We’ve done a few things together. She’s really quite a fascinating person. Of course, I knew that the first time we met.”

“And you said... she was gay?”

“That’s right.” Anna knew her father struggled a bit when it came to issues of tolerance, but she and others had been bringing him along over the years, even getting him to sign off on domestic partner benefits at Premier. “Maybe you and Mom can meet her soon. I know you’ll like her. Everyone does.”

He grunted and pushed up from the chair. “I’m calling it a night. I have to rest up to get my not-that-fat-but-old Greek self to the golf course tomorrow.”

Anna chuckled. “You forgot cranky.”

 

From her office on the second floor, Lily watched with delight as Anna exited her car at the curb and walked briskly toward the entrance of her building. The idea that Anna felt comfortable enough with their friendship to surprise her by dropping in for lunch filled her with amused satisfaction. Lily quickly reached into her top drawer for her compact mirror and checked her appearance. Then, so she wouldn’t spoil Anna’s surprise, she picked up her pen and shuffled her papers to give the impression of being absorbed in her work.

She heard voices in the reception area, one of them Anna’s, but she couldn’t understand what was being said. Moments later, all went quiet and she readied herself for a buzz from her phone intercom or a head in her doorway.

Neither happened.

When she could stand it no longer, she looked out the window again, convinced she must have been mistaken about the identity of the visitor. But it was definitely Anna, and she was getting back into her car—with Tony.

“How could he do that?” She hadn’t meant to shout, but it was too late. Lauren and Pauline were already rushing into her office.

“What’s wrong?” Lauren asked.

Lily took in their curious faces, scrambling for a way to spin her outburst into something reasonable. “I just saw Tony leave. I needed to ask him something.”

“He just went to lunch. I doubt he’ll be gone long.”

“Was that... who was...?”

“It was Anna Ka- something,” Pauline said. “That friend of yours who came in a couple of weeks ago.”

“Anna Kaklis. She went with us on Kidz Kamp,” Lily said, slumping into her chair.

“What’s wrong, Lily? Is there a problem?” Lauren asked.

Lily could fool Pauline, but Lauren knew her better and could tell when something was bugging her. “Not really, I guess. It’s just that I asked Tony not to hit on her. She’s recently been through a bad divorce.”

“It wasn’t Tony,” Pauline said. “She’s the one that called and asked him to go.”

Lily thought she was going to be sick. She had always thought Tony was the kind of guy women ought to choose, a guy who cared about people less fortunate, a guy who loved kids. But the idea of Anna hooking up with her boss was more than she could take.

Lauren and Pauline went back to their desks, leaving her to her misery. An hour later, Anna’s BMW returned, and Tony got out alone. Lily fumed at the satisfied smirk on his face.

To make matters worse, he soon brought his gloating grin to her doorway. “It’s a beautiful day, Lily.”

“I told you Anna was going through a tough time. I can’t believe you took advantage of her that way.”

His smile faded. “But she... you think I shouldn’t have... oh, wait.” Suddenly, he grinned again, this one broader and, for Lily, more infuriating, than the first. “Lily, that wasn’t a lunch date. It was a business meeting.” He drew an envelope from his pocket and laid it on her desk.

Lily picked it up, noting the return label for Premier Motors. Inside was a check from the dealership, made out to Kidz Kamp, enough to cover its annual budget.

 

Lily gasped as she pulled through the open gate at the Kaklis home, the big house, Kim had called it. It was. In her worn out SUV, she felt woefully out of place. Kim’s invitation to Anna’s thirty-second birthday dinner had come as a delightful surprise, but as she parked among the BMWs, she couldn’t help but feel self-conscious.

Anna answered the door with a startled look.

“Surprise!” Lily stepped into a light hug.

“I can’t believe my sister’s this good at keeping secrets.”

“She told me not to say a word.”

“And she told me her car wouldn’t start. So of course I rushed right over.”

Lily laughed, thinking Anna was the only woman in LA who would fall for a trick like that just because she really wanted to check out the car.

“Let me introduce you to everyone.”

As Anna walked her through the majestic house, Lily took in the splendor of the fine home, lavishly decorated with art and antiques. Once outside on the backyard patio, she was dragged by the hand to the umbrella table, where Kim and Hal sat with an older couple she presumed to be Anna’s parents.

“How’s my favorite first mate?” Hal asked enthusiastically.

“Hey, fella! I’m supposed to be your favorite first mate,” whined Kim, backhanding her husband playfully across his stomach. She pushed in front to hug Lily. “I’m glad you could come.”

“Me too. Thanks for inviting me.”

Anna moved beside her stepmother. “Lily, I’d like you to meet my mother, Martine.”

“I’m pleased to meet you, Mrs. Kaklis.”

“And I’m happy to meet you, as long as you call me Martine.”

“And this is my father, George.”

Lily would have known him anywhere, as Anna had his height, his coloring and especially his gorgeous blue eyes. “Mr. Kaklis.”

“It’s George.”

Anna finished by circling the group to stand beside her. “Mom, Dad, this is my dear friend, Lily Stewart.”

George Kaklis’s reaction reminded her of her first meeting with Kim. He stepped forward to embrace her, then stood back to eye her up and down. “I can’t tell you how happy I am to meet the woman who saved my daughter’s life.”

“You know, she always says that, but I’ve learned she usually leaves out the part where she saved mine. I wouldn’t be here if you hadn’t raised such a courageous daughter.”

Kim leaned over and butted in. “Hal and I call them the mutual admiration society. Isn’t it nauseating?”

Dinner was lively, with lots of conversation and laughter. Lily was peppered with questions throughout.

“So Lily, I take it you aren’t married,” Martine said.

“That’s right.”

Hal gave her a wink. “Anna told us about something funny you said when you guys were in that bridal store at the mall. What was that again?”

Anna repeated Lily’s quip about her worst fear, and while everyone else laughed, Martine obviously didn’t get it.

Kim’s whisper was loud enough for everyone at the table to hear. “Lily’s a lesbian, Mother.”

Martine’s face turned bright pink. She too whispered loudly, “Oh, I’m sorry.”

Lily just laughed and whispered back, “Don’t worry. I’m cool with it.”

“I mean... I just... why am I whispering?”

All through dinner, Lily enjoyed herself thoroughly. The Kaklis family was fun, and they obviously were extremely devoted to one another. Having been raised by a single mother, she had never experienced this type of family life. Not that she was complaining—life with Eleanor Stewart had been perfect as far as she was concerned—but it was interesting to see the sibling dynamics, as well as the familial interchange between George and Martine. This was the life Lily wanted for all of the children she worked with in the foster care system.

Of everyone at the table, George was the enigma. Lily thought him genuinely kind, but something ran beneath the surface, as if he were withholding judgment until he learned all he could about her. “Lily, I’m curious. Do you ever encounter discrimination in your work?”

“You mean because of my height?” She guessed he was talking about her sexual orientation, and the question surprised her.

“No, I was just wondering if prejudice is as bad in the court system as it is in the business world. I don’t consider myself prejudiced, but I have to confess I’ve always shied away from hiring people who were open about their sexual preferences. Anna and I were talking about this just the other day. We want our customers to feel like they’re doing business with someone they can relate to.”

Lily bristled slightly, trying her best to figure out how George Kaklis could feel that way and not consider himself prejudiced. For some reason, it wasn’t taboo to be open about your sexual preferences if you were straight. But she didn’t want to offend Anna’s father, so she tried not to take it personally. “Don’t you sell BMWs to gays and lesbians too?”

She glanced at Anna to see if she was stepping over any lines with her response. To her displeasure, Anna was looking at her father pensively, as if considering his argument.

“Yes, I’m sure we do. But they don’t usually announce their sexuality. I don’t think it would be appropriate if one of our salespeople did either.”

“Unless he or she was straight, is that right?”

“You don’t have to announce that. It’s the norm. I just think customers want to walk into the showroom and see people like themselves.”

“It’s the ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ of the business world.”

He nodded seriously, clearly assuming she was buying his argument.

For Lily, the worst part of this was the apparent agreement by Anna to this Neanderthal point of view. Furthermore, that George had mentioned it at all seemed purposive to Lily, as though he had intended to insult her.

She stood and looked around the table at the frozen faces. “I should be going. I’ve got three cases scheduled for court next week, and I need to prepare. I hope you’ve had a nice birthday, Anna.” Turning to Kim and Hal, she added, “Thanks for including me in your plans. I can find my way out.” Abruptly, she turned and left.

 

“Dad, that’s not what we talked about.”

“But Anna—”

“In fact, it was just the opposite,” she said, jumping to her feet in pursuit of Lily. But she had underestimated Lily’s eagerness to leave, and was surprised when she reached the front door to see the RAV4 already disappearing beyond the hedge. Livid, she stormed back to the patio where her father met her angry glare with a look of pure innocence.

“What was all that about?” she demanded. “You know we have gay people at the dealership. You even signed off on their benefits.” In all her life, she had never spoken to her father in such a scolding tone, and the shock was clearly registered on all the faces of the Kaklis family.

“Anna, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to say anything offensive. I was just thinking about our conversation and wondering if she had any problems where she worked.”

Her father seemed truly contrite, but she didn’t like his recent showing of narrow-mindedness, whether it was about minorities at work or a lesbian who happened to be a guest in his home. “You and I are going to finish this conversation, but right now, I have to go apologize to my friend for your rudeness.” She started to leave, but stopped at the sliding glass door. “Thank you all for the party. I’m sorry... but I have to go.”

“Wait up, Anna.” Kim rose to follow her to the door. “Are you okay?”

“I can’t believe I just sat there, Kim. I had no idea she was taking Dad’s words to heart, and I should have stuck up for her.”

“I don’t know what’s up with Dad, but Lily surely knows you don’t feel that way.” She took Anna’s shoulders and looked her squarely in the eye. “You and Lily care about each other, and you need to see what that’s about. Don’t let Dad decide this.”

Anna was struck dumb by her sister’s words. See what that’s about? She finally found her voice. “I... it isn’t like that, Kim.”

“Whatever it is, don’t let Dad push you one way or the other. He already did that with Scott.”

With her sister’s words weighing on her mind, she headed out to find Lily.

 

Lily spun onto the freeway, furious with herself for not keeping her mouth shut. She had acted like a spoiled child. “I ruined dinner. I ruined Anna’s party. I’ve ruined everything. Way to go, shithead,” she said aloud, pounding on the steering wheel.

The RAV4 responded with a sputter, and slowed dramatically. Lily slid one lane to the right and exited the freeway. To her relief, she spotted a Chevron station ahead as the car continued to slow, but it was clear she wasn’t going to make it. “Damn it! What else could—” She stopped herself suddenly, remembering the last time she had asked a question like that, the ground had disappeared beneath her feet. The RAV4 finally died against the curb, about thirty feet shy of the busy station.

She had plenty of gas, plenty of oil... the temperature gauge was right in the middle. That was the sum of her car knowledge.

Her purse slung over her shoulder, she got out and walked to the gas station, thrilled to see it had both a garage and a mechanic on duty. She explained her problem to the station owner, and a young man named Chuck was sent to see about it. There was nowhere inside to sit, so she walked back out and waited by the door for the verdict.

Chuck returned and spoke to the owner, who followed him back to the car. Another ten minutes passed before they returned.

“Your alternator’s shot and two of the mounts are rusted out. I’m surprised it didn’t fall off going down the road.”

Lily sighed. “What’s it going to cost to fix it?”

“To tell you the truth, I don’t think it’s worth fixing. The distributor’s going to go next, and who knows what after that.”

She followed him back inside where he thumbed through a catalog.

“I’ll give you seven hundred dollars for it,” he finally said.

“What?”

“I have a friend who can strip it down for parts, but he’s not going to get much out of that one.”

“Seven hundred dollars!” She knew her car was old and worn out, but she had no idea she was driving around in a junkyard reject. “The tires alone are worth a hundred and fifty apiece.”

The man shrugged. “That’s the best I can do. It’ll probably cost you a couple of hundred just to tow it somewhere.”

Lily groped for her phone when she heard the familiar chime, the special one she had programmed for when Anna called. She needed to face the music for her rash behavior. Then she would deal with her car.

“Anna, I’m so sorry I stormed out. I lost my head.”

“No, Lily. You did nothing wrong. What Dad said was wrong, and I should have spoken up. I do all the hiring at the dealership, and I couldn’t figure out what the hell he was talking about. I’m the one who needs to be forgiven.”

“No, you’re not. I was at a party in his house. He has a right to his opinions. I should have just controlled my temper. And I ruined your party. I’m so sorry.”

“It wasn’t your fault. And he doesn’t have a right to that opinion.”

Lily felt better about Anna, but still awful about the scene she had made.

“Where are you? I drove to your apartment.”

“I’m on Henderson Avenue... at a Chevron station... with a dead car.”

“I see you’ve learned the magic words to get me to come running.”

 

“Yes, it’s a great vehicle,” Lily said. “I have no doubt at all it’s the best SUV on the road, by far. It’s just that it’s a little out of my price range. A lot, actually.”

It was after hours on a Saturday night at Premier Motors, but Lily was getting the VIP treatment, looking over the brand new X3 in the showroom. It was sweet—leather appointed, powerful, and loaded with bells and whistles. When she tacked on taxes and dealer fees, the price of even the lower end model was over forty thousand dollars.

“I can get you a good deal. I know the owner.”

“I’m sure you can. But even with a good deal, it’s more than I’ve saved for my house. I need to be looking at the Suzuki or the Kia.”

Anna frowned and shook her head with obvious disapproval. “Look, Lily. What if you could get the X3 for the same price as one of those other cars? Say, twenty-five thousand. Which would you rather have?”

“The X3, of course. I’m not an idiot. But I can’t let you drop the price on this car that much. This is business.”

“It’s more than business, though.” Lily turned to interrupt, but Anna held up her hand. “Hear me out. I still have a little trouble with my leg when I can’t stretch it out all the way. If I’m going to spend as much time in your new car as I did in your old car, then I want you to have something that’s comfortable to me. I’m in a position to help you get something nice, since I do own the place, after all. I have demos... I have pre-owned...” Lily was almost sold, especially if Anna could advise her on a used vehicle. She gestured at Anna’s knee. “It still bothers you?” “Sometimes.” Lily thought about the long trips from San Diego, and to and from Silverwood Lake. She felt awful to realize Anna had probably been in agony the whole time, but was too nice to say anything. “Okay, what can I get for thirty thousand?”

Anna smiled triumphantly. Then she grabbed Lily by the hand and dragged her through the glass door to the back lot. “You like silver?”