Page 35 of Finding Molly Parsons

“But what if she’s not there?” Faith had to vocalize her primary worry. All this could have been for nothing.

“If she’s not there, we go home, regroup, and continue looking.”

A buzz from the center console alerted Faith she had a message. A quick look down at the screen and she was smiling like an idiot. Just seeing Nathalie’s name on her phone turned her into a silly, love-struck teenager.

Nathalie 14:30 p.m.

Are you there yet?

Faith 14:30 p.m.

Not too far away.

Nathalie 14:31 p.m.

Message me when you arrive. Good luck. I’m thinking about you. And…

Faith bit her lip in anticipation.

Nathalie 14:31 p.m.

I miss you.

Nathalie missed her. An excited squeak made Carmen jump. Faith couldn’t stop the giggle, even if she wanted to. “Nathalie, by any chance?” Carmen laughed.

“She said she misses me.”

“Oh shit, this is too cute,” Mateo chimed.

“Dental dams,” Enid barked. “Always have dental dams. That’s a thing, right? I’m sure I heard a lesbian say it once.”

“Was that back in the day, ‘coz ain’t no one using those anymore,” Mateo replied. Faith scrunched her face. Should she know what a dental dam is? It felt like one of those things a good lesbian should know. Dammit, one more thing to add to her lesducation list.

“Can we stop saying dental dam, please?” Carmen shouted, her face a little red.

Faith summoned whatever courage she could to ask, “Um… what is a dental dam?” The car fell silent. Faith looked back at Mateo and Enid, who were both staring at Carmen expectantly.

“Um…” Carmen began, clearing her throat several times. “It’s… um… it’s something that is used for oral sex.”

“Oral sex,” Faith parroted.

“Yup. Um…”

“Oh my God, Carmen, you are the worst sherpa I have ever met,” Mateo announced dramatically. “Faith, a dental dam is a piece of latex that is placed over a woman’s vagina or anus. It creates a barrier for safe sex.”

“For cunnilingus, dear,” Enid tacked on.

“That doesn’t sound very romantic,” Faith answered, shaking her head. She didn’t like the sound of it at all.

“They’re good if you plan to sleep with different people. I suppose most U-Haul lesbians don’t see the need in them, right Carmen?”

“I’ve never U-Hauled,” she shot back, clearly uncomfortable.

“Have you used them?” Faith asked, then immediately regretted it. Carmen’s eyes were wide and hyper-focused on the road. “Sorry, you don’t have to answer that.”

“No, it’s fine. Um… yes, I have used them before. At the request of the woman I was with. I rarely use them though. I prefer no barriers. That is as long as both parties are consenting, of course.”

“Faith, honey, don’t worry about it. That’s something to discuss with your partner when the time comes.” Mateo reassured.

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