Chapter 16
Brianna often felt as though she was one step behind where she needed to be in life. She had spent her early adulthood jumping from career to career. Now she was finally in a place where she was settled. Brianna couldn’t ask for a better work environment than Lez Getaway. And her relationship with River had her feeling over the moon. Her life was coming together.
She’d recently gone back to working primarily from home. But her friendship with Allison had been solidified. Now Brianna found herself coming in one morning a week to have coffee with her new friend. They had spent time talking about her relationship with River, as well as Allison’s marriage to her wife, Taylor. This morning they were meeting at the office for coffee.
Since Taylor was still out of town, Allison had been bringing Lulu into the office. The scraggly gray cat turned to glare at Brianna as she stepped inside Allison’s office. Brianna handed Allison a lavender latte with the squirts of classic.
“You know we have coffee here? You didn’t have to buy me any,” Allison teased.
“I know. But also, this office coffee is awful. So, I thought I’d bring you something real.”
“I’m very impressed that you remembered my coffee order,” Allison smiled.
“I have a strange talent for remembering drink orders.”
“I see that,” Allison smiled as she took a sip from her coffee.
“How are things going with River?” Allison asked.
“Honestly, they’ve been amazing. I’m trying not to worry about things going too well,” Brianna laughed.
“Too well?” Allison asked.
“You know, like waiting for an invisible shoe to drop.”
Brianna hated the feeling that things were so good they were likely to turn sour at any moment. Allison shook her head and smiled.
“Based on what you’ve told me so far there is no indication that will be the case,” Allison patted Brianna’s arm.
“Maybe. But things can’t just stay perfect forever.”
“I don’t know about that. It is true that struggles will happen. But it’s all in the way you handle those things.”
“They don’t call you in to give pep talks, do they?” Brianna laughed.
“I’ll have you know that people find my relationship advice refreshing,” Allison grumbled.
“You’re right. I’m sorry. I think I’m just in this weird place. I have everything I’ve ever wanted. So, this is when the universe usually sends something to fuck it up.”
Brianna tried to chuckle. She wanted to play her words off as a joke. But in truth her life had consistently blown up when she was at her happiest. Now she was doubly scared, because she’d never been happier than she was right now.
“I’m not saying that isn’t valid. And I’m not sure this is going to be helpful at all. But you can spend your life worrying about what’s coming to ruin your happiness. Or you can fully enjoy these moments while they last. Life is strange and nothing is guaranteed. So be happy right now in these moments.”
Brianna allowed Allison’s words to take root in her heart. She knew her friend was right. Focusing on the negative would only bring that to her quicker anyway.
“You’re very wise,” Brianna teased. The compliment was true, Allison was wise and smart. Still, she knew that the phrasing would niggle at her friend.
“Are you calling me old?” Allison pouted.
“I would never call you old. I called you wise. And people can be wise at any age,” Brianna grinned. Allison pinned her with a glare and Brianna burst out into laughter.
“I’m glad you’re here. Because I have something to show you,” Allison smiled.
“Show me. I love surprises.”
Allison reached into her desk drawer. She pulled out something that looked like an old photograph. The picture was strange, it looked like a potato in a cave. Brianna tilted her head from one side to the other, then adjusted the photo to different angles.
“Brianna, it’s a sonogram. That’s my baby,” Allison announced. Brianna’s eyes raised in surprise.
“A baby? Your baby?” Brianna asked.
“That’s right.”
“Oh my god! That’s incredible! What do you know so far?”
“Not much. I know the baby seems healthy so far. I’m at thirteen weeks,” Allison smiled.
“Does Taylor know yet?”
“I was going to wait for her to get back into town. But I finally told her over Facetime two nights ago. I just couldn’t wait,” Allison laughed.
“What was her reaction?”
“Extreme excitement. She’s wrapping her trip up and coming home early. She’s going to be flying in tonight.”
“This is incredible. I can’t. Wow! You’re pregnant. Who else knows?”
“Jordan knows. I mean she would kill me if I didn’t tell her. I actually told her first. I mean with Taylor out of town I needed someone to know. Then I told Brynn, too.”
“I bet as far as people go, she’s a good one to tell,” Brianna smiled.
“She’s been incredible. Every day she calls to check in on me. And she’s made sure that I’m fully stocked up on saltines and ginger ale,” Allison laughed.
“Oh, I can only imagine. I know she takes being there for her people very seriously.”
“She definitely does.”
“Thanks for telling me. It’s really sweet that I’m on the list of first humans to know. I’m so happy for you!”
Brianna was completely over-joyed for her friend. Her smile widened as far as it would go.
“You know before I met Taylor, I had gone through the most painful breakup of my life?” Allison offered.
“Oh yeah?”
“I was not okay. That breakup nearly destroyed my self-confidence. Then I met Taylor and things slid right into place. I tell you this, because sometimes the other shoe doesn’t drop. Sometimes you get to have your happily ever after.”
Allison smiled widely at her. Brianna rose from her seat and came around to give Allison a hug.
“I can get up to hug you,” Allison laughed.
“Nope you’re pregnant now. You shouldn’t move. Not for the next nine months,” Brianna teased.
“That is not how pregnancy works,” Allison laughed.
“You’re probably right. But this one time I don’t mind coming around for a hug.”
Lulu had grown accustomed to Brianna in the recent weeks. But accustomed was not the same thing as liking her. Lulu gave a yowl of displeasure as Brianna trespassed across her line of comfort.
“Sorry, Lulu,” Brianna laughed. The cat gave a tiny hiss to show how little effort Brianna was worth to her.
“Tough crowd,” Brianna teased.
“Sorry about that. She’s ready for Taylor to come home. We both are.”
“Once Taylor comes home what happens to Lulu?” Brianna asked.
“She is Taylor’s little buddy. So once Taylor gets back Lulu will be super happy that she gets to hang out with her all day long.”
“Lulu, that’s kind of precious,” Brianna said in a soft voice. Lulu barely spared her a glance. Instead, she strutted over to Allison’s window to give death stares to the birds outside.
“What are you going to do for the rest of the day?” Allison asked.
“I think my next stop will be Wilson’s Flower Shop. I need to buy some flowers for my beautiful girlfriend.”
Brianna knew the smile on her face was huge. She couldn’t help it. The idea of surprising River with flowers had given her heart a jolt.
“Have the best day, friend,” Allison smiled.
“You, too, friend.”
Brianna practically skipped out to her car. She was excited to see the look on River’s face when she showed up with a huge bundle of flowers. Brianna pulled out of the parking lot with a screech of her tires. She couldn’t wait to get back home to River.