Page 84 of Pierced Pages
Morgan laughed. “Bread and cake are very important, though.”
Gerri gave a sly smile. “I’ve got another bag of it in my car for my family’s thing later. They won’t let me bring anything but bread either.”
Kim handed them each a glass of wine and directed them to the living room with the others. Lila was holding Melanie’s attention as she once again made her case for a snake for her birthday in a couple of weeks.
“No snakes,” Danielle said for about the tenth time that Morgan had heard over the past month.
With a pout, Lila waddled off to play with the couple’s dog in the backyard. She was off her crutches, but still wasn’t one hundred percent. Morgan watched as Danielle eyed her daughter rushing outside, knowing Danielle was still anxious about another potential accident.
She sat beside Danielle on the sofa and squeezed her hand to reassure her. In return, she got a grateful smile before Danielle laid her head on Morgan’s shoulder.
“Is Jen still coming?” Melanie asked as she stood to help Kim in the kitchen.
“Yeah, she should be here any minute,” Morgan said. “Thanks for inviting her, too.”
Jen and Morgan usually spent holidays together, since Morgan didn’t keep in touch with her family, and Jen’s lived across the country. Danielle had insisted Jen should join them, and Melanie agreed.
“Of course,” Melanie said. “I’m glad she can come.”
“Me too,” Danielle said, her head still resting on Morgan’s shoulder.
Morgan kissed the top of her head, taking in the sweet floral scent of her shampoo. Before she realized what she was saying, she blurted out, “I love you.”
She felt Danielle go stiff. Then she sat up to look at Morgan, her green eyes a swirl of indiscernible emotion.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to?—”
“I love you, too.”
Morgan felt the sickness of regret fill her stomach. Because this wasn’t at all how she wanted to say this.
“I know this is early, so I don’t mean to pressure you into saying anything, I just?—”
“Morgan,” Danielle said in a stern voice. “I meant what I said. I love you, too.”
Morgan relaxed as warmth rushed through her body.
She could barely believe what was happening. She was spending a holiday with her girlfriend. And they’d just expressed their love for each other.
She wasn’t sure her heart could handle it all. All she was really sure of was that she loved this woman, and she wasn’t afraid anymore. She was in for the ride for as long as Danielle was on it with her.
Epilogue
6 weeks later
“All right,” Melanie said from her chair lined up in the circle. “That’s it for today, I think. Unless anyone has anything to add?”
They each shook their heads and looked around the room to make sure everyone had been heard for the afternoon. Danielle looked around at Kim, Gerri, Aubrey, and their newest member, Lila’s piano teacher. Danielle was still getting used to calling her by her first name, Jessica, instead of Ms. Venable.
“Great,” Melanie added. “Then I guess that’s it until next month’s meeting.”
They had all agreed on the next book selection, a celebrity romance about a country singer afraid to come out to their fans, but she falls hard for an animal rescuer and can’t hide for long. Danielle couldn’t wait to read it.
She stood and stretched her back. The folding chairs in the meeting room were awfully convenient to have, but not so comfortable.
Jessica stood along with Danielle and said, “Thanks so much again for inviting me.”
“Of course,” Danielle said. “We’re glad to have you.”
