Chapter 41
April
April was finishing getting ready in their hotel room ahead of her interview. She and Dani had chosen to book a twin room so that they could work through the plan one more time before heading to the studio.
She stood in front of the mirror and checked that she was happy with everything. She had spent the day before going through her wardrobe to pick the perfect outfit, shoes, hair and make-up style. Everything.
In the end, there really was only one option: it had to be the same outfit she had on the night she first met Jade.
She ran her eyes over herself from head to toe: hair down, midnight blue top, fitted jeans, strappy sandals, and dark blue smoky eyes. Only this time, with one little addition.
“Are you ready?” Dani appeared behind her: fitted fire-engine red power suit with black camisole underneath and raised on black stiletto heels, brunette hair slicked back in a fierce high ponytail. Nobody was going to mess with her, not even April.
Was she ready? April wasn’t sure. She’d spent the past few days switching between being ok and not, just trying to keep it all together.
She spent time focusing on her training ahead of the US Open starting this weekend.
A few hours sorting through paperwork and contracts with her dad and Dani as her best friend took over her representation.
She spoke with her family in the evenings about her coming out, Jade, and why she hadn’t told them sooner.
But overall, just being together as a family with her finally getting to be completely herself with them had done wonders for her hurting heart.
“Yes? No?” April sighed. “Am I really doing this?” She looked at her friend in the mirror.
Dani’s hand rested on April’s shoulder. “There is no pressure for you to do this. Ever. You can walk away at any time. Just remember, this is for you, and nobody else. You know as well as I do that Suzie’s threat more than likely isn’t an empty one.
This is you taking control in the best way possible.
With courage, strength, and a whole lot of love behind you to help you through whatever the fallout of this may be. ”
April took a moment to let her friend, and manager’s, words sink in. Dani was right, she just had to remember that this was about her. Nobody else. Yet...
“What if she doesn’t see it?” April all but whispered her fear.
“She’ll see it,” Dani said confidently.
“How can you be so sure?” April asked, concern written all over her reflection.
“Because I am,” Dani said.
“I’m going to need a little bit more than that today,” April managed to get the words past the growing lump in her throat.
Dani sighed, turned April to look her straight in the eye, placed a hand on each of her shoulders and continued. “I spoke with Lana, who explained everything to Cleo, who will make sure Jade is watching at Friday Night Dinner, which I hear is a big deal in her family. So, she'll see it.”
April smiled at the thought of Jade being surrounded by family when she watched April’s plan unfold before her eyes. A flutter filled her chest. Damn, I can’t wait to tell her I love her.
They made their way out of the hotel and into the car waiting to take them to the studio. Dani spent the drive on her phone answering emails while on a call with her assistant, leaving April to her thoughts.
Every time in the past that she’d thought about coming out, she’d only ever considered what would happen after.
She hadn’t thought much about the actual act itself.
A memory of one of her earliest conversations with Jade sprung to mind, where Jade explained to her that coming out wasn’t a one-and-done thing; it would be something she would be doing most days for the rest of her life.
The more she thought about it, the more she realized that going forward, the idea of coming out in day-to-day life was no longer just about her.
It was about Jade. It was about them. It would be a daily declaration that the person she had fallen so completely for, was a woman, and was worth sharing their love with the world.
She thought back over the past few days. Namely, to her family’s reaction to her coming out.
Her Mom had been a mother-hen and mama bear all rolled into one.
She’d never seen her mom be so fierce about a subject.
Her support for her and Jade once she was reassured that her mom hadn’t done anything wrong for April to feel like she couldn’t come out to her.
Her disgust at the actions of Suzie that had put her in this position.
Her disappointment in her dad and how he had handled the entire situation. Without consulting her.
Her Dad had spent a lot of time with her talking out on their back porch.
He explained that the reason he had reacted the way he did was because he was torn over what role she needed from him first. In the moment he thought she needed him to be her manager and to squash the rumors given she hadn’t yet come out to him or her mom.
He thought that because she wasn’t yet out, that she didn’t want to be, not like that.
So, he came up with a plan to deny it for her.
However ridiculous the plan now appeared to be in hindsight; his intentions were from a place of unrelenting love and support.
Connor and Lana were amazing. Connor had told her that while he always had an inkling that April was gay, he knew it had to be her choice to tell him.
He said it was the one thing he could give her, his quiet support and his patience.
He also said that Lana had explained who Jade was for her, and that he was glad his sister had met someone who was part of such a loving and supportive family unit.
She then started picturing that family unit, all gathering for dinner around the large table.
Fiona making dinner and shooing Jade away so as not to start another fire.
Rob observing everything that was happening and being said, yet not missing an opportunity to make a joke or smother the young ones in hugs and love.
Evan and Toni, who she hadn’t spent much time with, but hoped to get to know better in the future.
Cleo and Ivy, who had been in her and Jade’s corner from the word go.
Then there was Jade. The woman who had captured her heart entirely.
“Ready?” Dani asked again, softer this time.
April blinked out of her daydream of thoughts of the incredible support system she had behind her today and looked out the window. They were already at the studio.
“How long until I’m on-air?” April asked her nervously.
“Less than an hour. Then you’ll be finished 40 minutes later, ok?” Dani waited for a reply before moving.
“Ok, yeah, I’m ready.” April said, taking a deep breath and opening the car door.