Chapter Text
Lisa settled into the familiarity of her office chair, her mind wandering back to the phone call she and Carla had had the night before. The reassuring words had echoed between them; they were still set for their weekend plans with Betsy. Lisa smiled, feeling the warm thrum of excitement. It was a small step forward, but an essential one.
After what felt like hours, Lisa found herself buried under a mountain of paperwork, the monotonous rhythm of her tasks dragging her down. As she sorted through endless forms, her mind wandered back to the moment in the Rovers when Carla had accused her of being a glory hunter. The playful accusation made her chuckle, lightening the dullness of her morning.
Today was a half day for the D.S. She had a meeting at Betsy’s college that would take up a good chunk of her afternoon. As she sat in the meeting, her mind drifted to dinner plans. She’d decided to cook a simple carbonara for her and Betsy when she got home. A little culinary comfort to share, and an opportunity to enjoy time with her daughter. It wasn’t just about the meal; it was about reconnecting.
After wrapping up the meeting and hearing the last of the discussions, Lisa gathered her things, her excitement building at the thought of getting back home. The drive felt longer than usual, anticipation gnawing at her. She could already smell the savory aroma of garlic and bacon mingling with the fresh pasta in her mind.
When she finally arrived home, she quickly got to work in the kitchen. Everything was prepped—the pasta was boiling, and she sautéed the garlic and pancetta in a pan. Soon, the familiar fragrance filled the air, melding with the homey scent of fresh herbs. She couldn’t help but smile as she worked; it was therapeutic, and she loved every second of creating something for her and her daughter.
Once the carbonara was piled high on their plates, they sat at the table. As they ate, laughter bubbled between them, filling the echoes of the home that had felt too quiet for far too long since Becky’s passing. The moments, the conversations, they created warmth that hadn’t been there before, a gentle reminder of joy that was always within reach.
“Betsy, I was thinking…” Lisa began, her fork hanging mid-air. “How about a day out together this weekend? Me, you and Carla—a nice walk in the park?”
Betsy's fork paused, her raised eyebrow challenged the suggestion. “You mean, you want me to hang out with you two lovebirds? Sounds like a thrilling day.”
Lisa felt the eye-roll before it happened, a carefully practiced move from her daughter. “Oh, come on! It won’t be like that. We’ll just enjoy the outdoors, maybe grab some ice cream.”
Betsy’s sarcastic comment hung in the air, but Lisa sensed a flicker of something—maybe interest or curiosity, perhaps a sign that her daughter was beginning to accept their relationship on some level. “Ice cream, in December? You two really need to take it down a notch,” she retorted, feigning disgust.
Yet, under the veil of sarcasm, Lisa saw the effort, which filled her heart with hope. “Look, I know it sounds cringey, but we would love to spend time with you,” Lisa pressed, her tone earnest. “You don’t have to come if you don’t want to, but we'd really like it if you did.”
After a beat, Betsy dropped her fork onto her plate with a defeated thud. “Fine. But only if you promise not to hold hands or giggle like idiots the whole time.”
Lisa chuckled, the sound lightening the mood even further. “No promises! But we’ll try our best to keep it cool.”
The laughter that followed wrapped around them like a cozy blanket. Lisa felt a swell of affection for Betsy, knowing that this was a step—a slow, sometimes awkward dance toward understanding and acceptance. It wouldn’t happen overnight, but she had faith that they were moving in the right direction.
“See? That wasn’t so hard,” Lisa said brightly, feeling a warmth settle around her. “We can work on our lovebird-silencing skills before the weekend.”
Betsy's smile broke through the sarcasm, and for a moment, Lisa felt that maybe, just maybe, they’d find their way through this together—one step, one meal, one walk at a time. The laughter in their home had returned, and with each shared moment, the shadows of the past grew a little lighter.
—————-
As they cleared the dinner table together, Lisa grabbed her phone, feeling the urge to text Carla and share the news.
“Hey Sweetheart! Great news! Betsy has agreed to join us tomorrow! 🎉 xx”
A moment later, her phone buzzed with Carla's reply. “Wait, seriously? Is this real life? 😮 xx”
Lisa chuckled, imagining Carla’s wide-eyed expression. “Yep! She even joked about not wanting to see us hold hands. I think that’s a win! xx”
Carla chuckled at the honesty from the teenager. “😂 That’s classic Betsy! At least she’s showing some interest. xx”
“Exactly! It feels like a breakthrough. Hoping it means she’s softening a bit. xx” Lisa replied.
“For sure! Just remember to keep it chill tomorrow. We don’t want to overwhelm her too much. xx” Carla said cautiously, fearing she might have overstepped.
Lisa’s reply immediately settled Carla’s nerves. “Of course! Ice cream, a stroll, and lots of laughs. Simple and relaxed. xx”
“Perfect plan! And if she rolls her eyes, just send her my way. I can handle it. 😏 xx” Carla’s confidence on the situation started to return.
Lisa replied with a wide smile. “Oh, I’ll definitely need your sarcasm skills in full swing tomorrow! I can already see her giving us both the side-eye. xx”
Carla let out a laugh before sending her reply. “Hahaha! I’ll come armed with witty comebacks. Can’t let you two have all the fun! xx”
“Just be ready! I might need backup if she gets too snarky. xx” Lisa typed back with a grin.
“Deal! I’ll be like your sarcastic bodyguard. xx” Carla replied with a hint of flirtation.
Lisa smiled at her phone, appreciating Carla's support and lightheartedness. “Thank you for always being there for us! It truly means a lot. xx”
Carla felt her heart warm at the message. “Anytime! This should be a day to remember—hopefully for all the right reasons. xx”
“Absolutely! Tomorrow should be interesting. Can’t wait! xx”
“Me too! Now I’m going to enlist Ryan’s help to draft some ice cream-themed puns just in case. 😂 xx”
Lisa chucked to herself before responding, with the knowledge that Ryan would come up with a long list of puns that would be sure to wind Betsy up. “Hahaha! Can’t wait to hear them! See you in the morning! xx”
“I love y—” Lisa stammered, nearly hitting send on the message. Had it really only been a week since they became official? It felt far too soon to share something so profound. She quickly deleted the text, her heart pounding as her mind spiraled into a tempest of conflicting emotions. Deep down, she knew she loved Carla, but after losing Becky, the thought of loving again felt like betrayal.
Would saying those words erase the beautiful love she had shared with Becky? The love that still resided in her heart, cherished and untouched? It felt silly, really—worrying about the feelings of someone who was no longer alive. Would Becky be happy that she loved another woman? Lisa had carried that question since she and Carla had grown closer. Her love for Becky wasn’t gone; it existed alongside her budding feelings for Carla, like two threads woven into the fabric of her heart.
Shaking off her thoughts, Lisa realised she needed to have an honest conversation with Carla about her feelings sooner rather than later. What if Carla didn’t feel the same intensity that was beginning to bloom within Lisa? The fear of that moment struck her; would Carla run away upon hearing Lisa declare her love?
Setting her phone down with shaking hands, Lisa felt a mix of anticipation and nervousness wash over her. She was excited about the day ahead but was also grappling with the fragility of the dynamics at play. A small step had been taken, but with each passing moment, the weight of her buried feelings pressed more heavily on her. Would they navigate this new chapter together with laughter and love, or was she destined to keep her heart locked away forever, fearing the ghosts of her past?
With a deep breath, Lisa tried to summon the courage to embrace the future, even as shadows of the past lingered. Whatever happened, she knew she couldn’t keep her heart hidden forever.