Page 55 of Paradise Pride

Her mother looked at her and sighed. “You’re so much like your father, but one day you’ll understand there’s far more to this world than meets the eye. Just try it for a few days, will you promise me that?” She pressed on when Florence didn’t answer. “As you’re not into meditation, simply hold it and focus on it. The best way to use it is to wear it on your heart, like a talisman, but you can also carry it around in your pocket. As long as you feel it’s there with you. Rose quartz is a powerful reminder that we are all worthy of love, and you, my sweet pea, are so, so worthy of love.”

Florence glanced at the piece of rose quartz and squeezed it, then met her mother’s eyes. “Okay,” she said, for the first time deciding it wouldn’t harm her to make her mother happy by fully accepting one of her quirky gifts instead of just shoving them in a box. She loved her mother, and it was time she started embracing her support, even if that support was a little ‘out there’. “Thanks, Mum. I’ll try.”

“Please, Florence. Negative experiences can be destructive and make us close off, so it’s important not to get sucked into a downward spiral. What we want is to be lifted because in the end, all that matters is the pureness and openness in here.” She crossed her hands over her heart. “In our fourth chakra—the heart chakra.”

55

Meghan

“How was your holiday, love?” Meghan’s mother put the roast chicken on the table and her father brought out the side dishes while Meghan set the table in their small living room.

“It was good, Mum. Spain was fun, as always.” She tried to sound as upbeat as she could because her mother always knew when something was wrong. She’d dodged their past two Sunday lunches, using the excuse of work, but she couldn’t avoid them any longer.

Her father was still wearing his work gear: an old pair of paint-stained jeans and a hoody that was torn at the left sleeve. He loved being a carpenter and sometimes worked Sunday mornings if there was a deadline on a building project. Her mother was wearing a tight black dress that would have been more suitable for a nightclub, and her hair was styled into a seventies beehive and curled at the tips.

“Are you guys thinking of going again next year?” Meghan asked.

“Of course, Megs!” her mother said. “We’ve already booked it because we wanted the same room. You know, the one that looks out over the pool bar? Why did you go to a different hotel?”

“Because I’m not hung up on tradition like you two, and Kim picked it.” Meghan realised then that it was because of Kim that she’d met Florence. If they hadn’t stayed at Paradise, she wouldn’t have struck up a conversation with Florence on that first night. She’d have still panicked wherever they were staying because she’d have had to sleep in her room alone, which meant she probably would have told Kim about her trauma out of desperation.

Everything would be different now if she hadn’t ended up in Paradise. She and Kim would still be besties and speaking every day like they used to, and she wouldn’t be so confused and upset. Most of all, her heart wouldn’t be broken because what she felt was the worst pain she’d experienced in her life. Looking back, though, she wouldn’t change it for the world, no matter how hard it was. Part of her knew she’d get through this, and when she was out at the other end and able to think straight again and be open about her feelings, Florence might want to talk to her. It was a tiny spark of hope, but it was enough to keep her going.

“Kim should have left the booking to you,” her mother said, unaware of Meghan’s inner turmoil. “You’re the Benidorm expert, after all. How was the bar there? Free flow? And the music?” Her mother wiggled her shoulders. “Did you get your jiggle on?”

Meghan chuckled. “Yes. All free and great music.” Her parents were the epitome of British working class, and even though their life hadn’t always been easy, they certainly knew how to have fun and make the most of their lot. “There was an event on,” she continued. “The hotel was closed when we arrived, as they were busy with the preparations and they’d failed to inform us about it.”

“So you had it all to yourselves? How fun!” her father said.

“Ihad it to myself,” Meghan corrected him. “Kim went to see her boyfriend, who is now her fiancé.”

“Really?” Her father chuckled. “I didn’t see that one coming. Knowing Kim, I honestly thought she was making more out of the relationship than was there.”

“No, they’re very happy and they’re getting married next year.”

“Good for them.” Her mother regarded her as they sat down around the dining table. “But she left you alone? Were you uncomfortable because of…” She stopped herself, and her smile dropped. She had just a much trouble talking about it as Meghan.

“It was fine, Mum. I spent the night with the bartender,” Meghan assured her. “She was really cool, and we became good friends.” For some reason, she felt compelled to talk about Florence.

“Oh, good. So, you had company while Kim was being all loved up?” her father asked, equally eager to steer away from the subject of his daughter’s assault.

“Yes, I hung out with Florence a lot.” Meghan tried to keep a straight face as she said it because Florence’s name made her want to cry and smile at the same time.

“Great, love. I’m glad you made a new friend. And what about the event? Any nice men?”

“Actually, it was a women-only weekend.” Meghan helped herself to food. “A Pride event.”

At that, both her parents burst into laughter, and her mother nearly choked on the piece of chicken she was chewing. “Oh, God. I’m imagining you and Kim surrounded by lesbians.” She giggled. “You must have been so popular, being such pretty girls.”

“It was fun,” Meghan said, laughing along but only half-heartedly. “Everyone was super nice, and no, it wasn’t like they were hitting on us.”

“But there was a little flirtation?” Her mother winked, then laughed even harder as she pointed to Meghan’s cheeks. “Are you blushing? Ross, look at that, our daughter is blushing.” She reached over the table to rub Meghan’s shoulder. “Don’t worry, love. I was curious at one point. Being with your father my whole life got me a little bored in the bedroom department, and I figured trying it with a woman wouldn’t be the same as cheating.”

“Gross, Mum.” Meghan cringed. “I don’t want to know, and besides, it’sexactlythe same as cheating.”

“I disagree. I told you father about my desires—I’ve always been a little curious—so he knew about it and was happy to get involved. Right, Ross?” Her mother shrugged as if talking to her daughter about a threesome was nothing out of the ordinary, then continued without waiting for a reply. “Anyway, we found a woman online and invited her over one night, but it wasn’t for me, after all. It was clumsy and a little awkward because—”

“Stop!” Meghan covered her ears with her hands. “I don’t want to know, and I don’t understand why you’re even telling me this. I’m not gay.”

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