Page 4 of Pierced Pages
“And you do a damn good job of it.” Gerri took a sip of her champagne and looked around at the crowd. “Speaking of that sweet girl, who’s with her tonight? Since we’re all here.”
By “we” Gerri meant the teachers of Great Oak High School. Gerri taught math, and Melanie, one of the beautiful brides hosting this party, taught English along with Danielle. There were a handful of other teachers in attendance, but the three of them had become a tight group since Danielle had transferred from another parish.
Danielle wasn’t sure how she’d have gotten through the last three years without them. Since her mom had died a few years earlier, and with no siblings, Danielle’s teaching family became her family outside of work, too. Without them, Danielle and Lila would be on their own in the world.
Gerri had given Danielle a standing offer to watch her, even if Lila thought she was too old for a sitter. She was basically the fun aunt. She always made their time together like a mini-party, so there were never any complaints from Lila afterward.
And Melanie was the coolest mom stand-in she could have dreamed up. Even though she was only about ten years older than Danielle. She was always ready with a warm hug, sharp advice, or something in a casserole dish. And Lila loved hanging out with Melanie and Kim, especially since they had a dog she’d become fast friends with.
“At a sleepover with Rylee and some other classmates for a birthday party,” Danielle said. “She was so excited she couldn’t get out of the car fast enough.”
“Sounds about right for that age.”
Gerri didn’t have kids of her own, but she had a ton of nieces and nephews she loved to spoil. She’d watched the older ones grow up, so she knew just what to expect at each age and was always willing to offer advice when Danielle asked for it.
Danielle smiled at the space in front of the DJ booth where Melanie was dancing with her wife, Kim. They were both lost in each other’s eyes as if the entire room had emptied around them.
“They look so happy,” Danielle said.
Gerri looked at them and nodded. “They really do. It’s kind of sickening.”
Danielle laughed and gently slapped Gerri’s arm. “Stop it. You know you’re happy for them.”
“I am,” Gerri said with a laugh, followed by a sip of her champagne. “I really haven’t seen Melanie this happy in years. Whatever they fixed seems like it made their relationship even better than ever. And they already seemed good together before the separation.”
“Yeah, they did.”
Danielle had always admired Melanie and Kim’s ease with one another. It was one thing she’d always wanted in a partnership of her own. So it was as much of a surprise to Danielle as it had been to everyone else when they split up last spring.
Thankfully for them, they’d worked out whatever their issues were and moved back in together shortly after the new school year started.
“Hey, let’s get you some food.” Gerri waved her now-empty glass. “And for me, too. I need something to soak this up or I really will end up with a migraine tomorrow.”
Danielle followed Gerri to the line of tables where caterers stood behind aluminum pans filled with rich-smelling food. Danielle breathed in the garlic and spices as she walked down the line with a disposable plate. Everything looked delicious, but she settled on shrimp fettuccine in a Cajun cream sauce and a fried boudin ball, making sure she left room for a square of that bread pudding later.
They sat at the end of a long table near the back of the room, as far from the speakers as they could get. The DJ was playing “New Orleans Ladies” now, which was a little mellower and easier on the ears and head, but there was bound to be a dance tune to follow.
“Oh, my gosh,” Gerri said, covering her mouth to finish a bite. “This is so good. You should try the fried fish. Here, have a piece.”
Before Danielle could accept or decline, half a strip of fried catfish appeared on her plate. She put a piece on her fork and took a bite. The batter was crunchy and seasoned perfectly, and the fish inside was fresh and flaky.
“Oh, wow. It really is good,” Danielle said. “You should try this pasta.”
She held out her plate for Gerri to take a bite. She watched as Gerri took in the rich, spicy, garlicky sauce with the freshest shrimp Danielle had tasted in a while.
Gerri finished chewing and pointed her plastic fork at Danielle’s plate. “I’m going to have to go back for some of that. And get the name of those caterers from Melanie.”
“You planning on having a wedding reception soon?”
Gerri barked a laugh. “Not if I can help it.”
Danielle laughed too, since she had intended it as a joke. That was another thing they shared. Neither of them had an interest in starting a relationship any time soon.
Gerri simply didn’t want to share her life with anyone or compromise on anything. She liked her life the way it was and didn’t intend to change that.
Danielle had Lila. There wasn’t time or energy left to spare for anyone else, even with her support system. It took all of her energy just to fit in the day-to-day stuff. Her life was a carefully balanced plate spinning in the air and loaded with carefully laid plans and routines. She couldn’t imagine trying to balance dating on that spinning plate.
Maybe when Lila was older.
