Chapter Text
“Is everything ready?”
We were sitting in the kitchen waiting for V’s guests. She was clearly nervous—she’d been restless ever since we got back. It was probably a good thing that we stayed out as long as we did.
Meredith had the party catered, but she didn’t order a sit-down meal. She and V had put together a menu of cold cuts and salads, and we were going to eat out on the deck. It was plenty warm enough in early October, and the deck was heated if it did get cold.
We were a bit worried about having Andrea there, but V had spoken to her about not hitting on any of the guests. She told me that Andi didn’t really get it, but she’d behave. I hoped that would last past the first ten minutes. All of our guests were aware of V’s past, though. Even if Andi did forget herself, I figured things would be okay.
“Everythin’ is perfect, michi. Ev’s gonna be here in a couple minutes, she just holo’d. You wanna put the coffee machine on?”
That kept V busy until Ev arrived—Meredith had an old-fashioned machine that took actual roasted and ground coffee. Even the tin of fancy coffee she’d sent me when she was first ‘courting’ me hadn’t been this good. Like most people, my coffee machine took pre-prepared pods. The perks of being with a corpo were starting to grow on me.
“Happy Birthday, V. Or is it Valerie, now?”
Evelyn kissed V on both cheeks before handing her a small, wrapped present.
“I don’t mind,” V smiled shyly. “I’m not quite used t’Valerie yet so y’might have t’say it more’n once.”
“Well, I should probably use that name then.”
Evelyn joined us in the kitchen. She and Meredith were giving each other wary looks. I really hoped they were going to get along. I wasn’t sure how I’d handle my best friend and one of the women I loved hating each other.
V broke the tension for me.
“Andi, this’s Judy’s friend Ev’lyn. An’ Ev, Andi lived in the same place’s me. She’s stayin’ f’the weekend. Best birthday present ever!”
Evelyn blinked and glanced at me. I knew what she’d be wondering. Even though it wasn’t true, I felt my cheeks warming. Now she’d really think I was fucking Andi.
“Hi.”
Andi’s little wave was as shy as V’s first meeting with Rita. Once again, I wondered if it was an act. Whether or not Evelyn thought the same, she smiled back.
“Hi. Andi, right? I like your hair.”
“Yeah. Short for Andrea. I like yours too. It’s so bright!”
“Well, it wouldn’t do for people not to notice me.” Evelyn winked at Andi and joined us at the kitchen table.
We’d tried to stagger the arrivals. Hopefully everyone would be on time. We’d explained why when we sent the invitations. This would be the first time we’d had so many people in the apartment, and there was no reason for V to have to deal with everyone arriving at once.
It would be around fifteen minutes before V’s tutor was due. Plenty of time for her to open the present from Evelyn. Time for me to whisper in Ev’s ear that no, I hadn’t fucked Andi. She believed me; at least, I was pretty sure she did.
When I passed on V’s invitation, Evelyn asked if there was anything the three of us did together. My snort had made her blush. Once she was done telling me I had a filthy mind, she explained what she’d actually meant.
Her present to V was a handful of movies that I didn’t have. When I’d mentioned that V loved watching cheesy, old movies with us, she’d asked for a list. Evelyn had always been good at buying presents, even for people she didn’t know well—V loved her gift.
Dr. Mazo arrived next. His gift was large enough that it got in the way of any hugs or kisses that V tried to greet him with. I wondered if that had been the idea. V clearly adored her tutor, and I wasn’t sure if she knew how to express that without trying to get into his pants. He gave V the present with an awkward ‘happy birthday’ and followed us back into the kitchen for introductions and coffee.
It turned out that he had pumped Meredith for information. Specifically, for V’s measurements, because he’d brought her a pair of western boots.
“Meredith helped me get them to NC,” he confessed. “I had a friend pick them up for me and she used her contacts to get them shipped cross-country.”
“I love them!” V traced a fingertip over the bright-red snakeskin decorating the deep burgundy boot. “They’re like yours.”
“They’re a lot prettier than mine,” he chuckled.
He was wearing them, of course—a pair of well-worn square-toed boots showed at the bottom of his jeans. He’d carried on the look with a synsilk shirt with a tight stand-up collar, and a vest that displayed rather than concealed its armored lining. I had a feeling that V would be showing an interest in western wear soon.
“C’n I—” Her eyes flashed cat-pupilled for a second. “Scuse me, I’m goin’ t’go put these on. Andi, come help?”
They left the kitchen while we chuckled into our coffee. Dr. Mazo was clearly happy she wanted to put the boots on straight away, so it wasn’t as if V was being rude. And it gave us a chance to prep him about Andi. He’d been wonderful with V when she said anything inappropriate. I was sure he’d be just as good with Andi, but it was kind to at least warn the poor guy.
Although I almost wished Andi wasn’t primed to be on her best behavior. We’d not had a chance to talk any more, but I was certain Meredith had been thinking of him when she’d said we knew someone to head a school. If he could handle Andi turning on the charm, he’d have no problem with any of the other children.
When they came back down a few minutes later, V had changed out of her halterneck jumpsuit and into leggings and a long, sleeveless shirt. The leggings were black shot with gold, the shirt was dark red, and she was still wearing the red and gold studs she’d chosen at the fashionware store. The outfit was perfect with her new boots.
Meredith and I had been worried for nothing. V seemed to be in her element entertaining her guests, although I had a moment of wondering if she was playing one of her Canyon roles. How to be a good host probably was something she’d learned there. But I could tell by now when she was just fitting into a role that had been forced onto her, and when she was genuinely content.
She and Andi were recounting their wargame victory from the previous evening when Hana and Mikey arrived. I excused myself to let them in and introduce Evelyn to my godparents. I’d told her about them, of course. She’d been thrilled for me. I’d actually sobbed on her when I told her what I’d learned about my mom. Ev was probably the only person who understood what it meant to me. To have learned that I was wanted, loved, that my mom had tried to be there for me, even if she’d ultimately lost the fight…
I was shocked when she pinned them both with one of her fiercest glares.
“Don’t you dare abandon her again!” She hissed.
At least she was keeping her voice down. I’d counted on any potential issues to be between Ev and Meredith, not my godparents.
“Ev, don’t—”
“Don’t interfere. Well? Are you planning on sticking around this time?”
“We wanted to last time,” Hana said quietly..
“If you’re angry with us,” Mikey cut in, “then it’s nothing compared to how angry we are with ourselves. Judy might have forgiven us, but we haven’t.”
“Hm.”
I bit my thumb while Evelyn looked between them. I wasn’t sure why they were letting her get away with this. Wasn’t sure why I was either.
After far too many seconds, she nodded, dragging first Hana and then Mikey into a hard hug. I was so confused. Evelyn hated touching people, yet here she was hugging total strangers.
Which was a good point.
“That’s Evelyn you’re hugging, by the way,” I pointed out. “Met when I was in Eisenhower. If V wasn’t too old for godparents, Ev’d prolly be hers.”
I didn’t miss Ev’s shocked expression. What, she didn’t think I thought that much of her? She was my best friend.
“You’re never too old for godparents,” Hana objected.
And V was only sixteen. If anything happened to me and Meredith…
“Would you? Be V’s godmother, I mean? If anythin’ happens to me before we actually get married, Meredith wouldn’t have any—”
“You said yes?”
“Married?”
“Did I miss something?”
All three of them spoke at once. Blushing furiously, I lifted my hand to show off my engagement ring. I’d forgotten; Ev knew Meredith had proposed, but she didn’t know I’d said yes. And I was still getting used to the idea of having godparents, never mind the idea that they’d want to know what was going on in my life. I hadn’t even told my grandparents!
“Oops. Yeah, Meredith asked a while back, but I wasn’t ready t’hear it. Then a couple days ago, I asked her.”
Ev hugged me this time. I think she’d done more hugging in the last few minutes than the last few months. Hana and Mikey were so effusive in their congratulations that everyone else came to see what the noise was. I ended up introducing my godparents to my daughter and fianc é e in the hallway.
It was odd to find myself wishing my grandparents were there. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d missed their presence in my life. Probably while I was still in care. It said a lot about how far I’d come in the months that V and Meredith had been in my life. I’d been talking to Avicenna every day, sometimes more than once, and my relationship with my grandparents had come up a lot . I needed to holo them soon. We had a lot to talk about.
But not yet, and not today. Although perhaps I should make sure they knew about V’s birthday. They might want to— I wanted them to —be involved. Even if it could only be by holo.
“Something wrong?”
The greetings were over and V was leading the way into the kitchen one last time. Meredith and I were at the back. She slipped an arm around my waist, pulling me against her as we paused in the doorway.
“No, jus’ thinkin’.”
I leaned against her, resting my head on her shoulder and smiling at the little group. She kissed the side of my head and squeezed me gently.
“What were you thinking?”
“It’s cheesy.”
“That means you definitely have to tell me.”
Her deep chuckle rumbled against my back.
“Okay, fine. I guess I—I just realized that I’m… happy. For the first time in my life.”
I really was. I hadn’t even recognized it at first. All the way through happy . Not wondering when it was going to be taken away. Not waiting for the hole to open up inside my chest and swallow it.
“I’m happy.”
The End