Chapter 29 Gemma #2
“The thing is Granny, I wasn’t happy. I thought it was just breaking up with Darcy, but then I realised I broke up with Darcy because I wasn’t happy.
She wasn’t letting me be who I wanted to be, who I needed to be.
Since we were here for The Marriage of Figaro, I’ve been on a bit of a journey of self-discovery.
I’m not sure if I’m at the end of that, but for right now, I am happy to say I am a masculine-presenting lesbian.
I enjoy wearing male clothes and having my hair cut short.
I feel butch, but I am still very much a woman and proud of who I am.
Does that make sense?” Rory wrinkled her brow, and Phyllis smiled gently at her.
“Not entirely.” She confessed as she sipped her coffee. “But it doesn’t have to make sense to me, only you. All I am concerned with is whether you are happy?”
At that, a broad smile crossed Rory’s face. “Yes. I am very happy Granny.” She threw Gemma the briefest of looks, which warmed Gemma’s heart.
“And you have Gemma back in your life?” Mary threw that in, and Gemma rolled her eyes at her grandmother’s obvious digging. She quickly sobered and tried to look like a friend would look rather than a concerned girlfriend looking after her lover.
“Yes, I have Gemma. She’s been an angel.
” Rory shot another look at Gemma, which made Gemma’s stomach flip-flop with joy.
Her heart thumped in her chest, and a flurry of butterflies fluttered in her tummy.
She realised she was grinning like a fool and schooled her expression lest the grandmas sensed something was going on.
Rory reached a hand across the table to Gemma, and they interlocked fingers. Gemma’s chest heaved, and she felt a prickle of heat dash across her cheeks.
“You did the hard stuff.” Gemma smiled. “I just held your hand for most of it.”
They shared a smile, and Gemma wondered if Rory, like her, was thinking of everything they had shared over the last couple of weeks.
“So, you don’t want to be a boy then?” Mary’s voice was inquisitive and insensitive.
“Oh Mary!” Phyllis chided her friend. Gemma winced but looked across to Rory, who had a broad grin on her face.
“No Mary, I don’t.” Rory sent her a sincere look.
“I am comfortable in my skin for the first time in years, and Gemma has been a huge part of my getting here. I can’t say for certain that I will remain this way in the future.
For most people, their gender aligns with how they were born, and that’s great.
Other people find their gender differs from what they were assigned at birth.
For me, my gender expression is much more fluid.
Some days I feel more feminine, other days, I feel more masculine.
Some in my position would be non-binary and use they/them pronouns.
I don’t feel like that right now.” Rory used the gentle smile Gemma had come to think of as her comforting lawyer smile.
Mary and Phyllis looked at each other. It was eerie sometimes how they could have a conversation without words. Gemma shuffled in her seat and waited for the other shoe to drop.
“So, are we all going to the spa?” Phyllis folded her napkin and laid it gently on the table. Obviously, the conversation about Rory was done for now, and Gemma was pleased that Rory was out of the spotlight.
“Yes, I think so.” Rory smiled, seemingly unperturbed by the grandmothers inviting themselves to the hotel spa with them.
Rory sprang up and moved swiftly around the table to help Mary with her chair.
After sitting for such a long time, her hip was likely to be stiff, and Rory already had her arm proffered for the older woman to steady herself on.
Gemma felt a wave of affection wash over her at the care that Rory was showing to her grandmother.
They left the restaurant and headed across the lobby towards the lifts.
“Do you need to go back to your rooms, or do you have everything with you?” Rory pressed the button to summon the lift, and Gemma resisted the temptation to tap her foot in impatience.
They were nearly out of the firing line, for now.
Fortunately, she and Rory needed to return to their room for their bathing suits and, hopefully, a quick kiss.
“Oh no, we will go straight there. We’ve got everything we need.” Phyllis tapped her tote bag hanging off her shoulder. “Perhaps we can fit in a Bucks Fizz before you get there?”
Mary and Phyllis laughed together, and Gemma was pleased that her grandmother had such a good friend to spend her time with.
“Okay then.” Rory turned to enter the lift that had just arrived with a ping when her grandmother stopped her by placing a hand on her arm.
“Oh, Rory,” Phyllis paused, a question on her face. “I’m guessing you prefer Rory to Aurora?”
“I do, but you, dearest grandmother, can call me anything you like.” Rory’s smile was the most sincere and charming Gemma had ever seen.
She could see Rory inching into the lift as it stood with its door open, and she could empathise with her.
Not only would Rory want some time to think about the conversation they had just had, but also, they just needed to be alone.
Her fingers itched to soothe Rory, to run her hands over her back and pull her into a hug.
“I will try to remember.” Phyllis patted her hand in that comforting way of hers.
Rory got a foot in the lift and indicated for Gemma to join her.
“Oh, Rory, I’ve got one more question.” Phyllis looked from Rory to Gemma and back again.
“How long have you two been dating?”