Chapter 43
April
“Thank you to my lovely guests, my wonderful audience, and I hope you join me next week for another...” Blair’s voice trailed off as April focused on breathing.
She’d done it. She’d told the world that she was in a romantic relationship with a woman. She’d decided not to name Jade without her permission, but she knew anyone who knew either of them would know exactly who she was talking about. And those were the only people whose opinions mattered to her.
Blair stood up and walked along the line of his guests, shaking their hands as they disappeared one by one back to their managers. April was last.
“Thank you,” she said shyly, shaking Blair’s hand.
“My dear, thank you, that was an extremely brave thing you’ve just done.
There will be young girls in several countries watching this or seeing just your interview clip, and for the first time seeing themselves being accepted.
” Blair said. “That’s a powerful thing, whether you intended it to be or not. ”
April blushed and let out a breath she didn’t know she was holding, “Thank you for being so kind with your questions and not probing or rushing, I don’t know how I would have coped under that kind of pressure.”
“April, nobody should ever use their position to force you to do something you’re not ready for.
And anyway, we gays have to look out for each other.
I remember only too well how my public outing happened, and I wouldn’t wish that on anyone.
” Blair placed a hand on her shoulder, “Now, go win the Open and come back next year when you’ve got more to tell us, yeah? ” He said with a wink and a smile.
April smiled, “I’d love to.”
April made it home less than an hour later.
“Aw, love, that was beautiful!” Her Mom gushed as soon as the front door opened, before she even had a foot inside the house.
“Thanks, Mom,” April said as Imogen enveloped her in a hug.
“I’m so proud of you, love. She’s one very lucky woman.” Her Mom said through teary eyes as she pulled back from her daughter.
“You did great, honey.” Her Dad was next in the welcome party, but he at least let her into the house before hugging her. “You’ve handled this whole thing better than I ever could.” He pulled back, unveiling Connor and Lana behind him.
“Did she see it?” April asked Lana urgently.
“I’ve not heard from Cleo yet, but she said she’d let me know as soon as she can.” Lana said as she made her way over to April for a hug. “Don’t worry, there’s no way she’s not getting in touch with you after that.”
“There’s still a day to go though, we agreed a week, I just have to wait until tomorrow.” April told herself as much as the others.
“What a day tomorrow’s going to be then, yeah?” Connor said, pulling her in for a bear hug. “That was some declaration!”
“Thanks, I just hope she saw it,” April said quietly.
Later that evening, Lana found April completing her last-minute packing before she had to leave for the airport in an hour.
“I just heard from Cleo,” Lana said.
April’s head lifted, hopeful eyes on a woman she was quickly considering a good friend, not just her brother’s girlfriend. "And? Did she see it?”
Lana pulled her lips into a tight thin line before she shook her head, “I’m sorry April, Cleo said they tried to get her to sit through with them to watch TV, but she just wanted some time to herself in the kitchen before heading home early. Right before your interview.”
“Oh,” April said, disappointment threatening to drown her. “I mean, it’s ok though, right? It’s not a rejection if she didn’t see it. And she didn’t know ahead of time I was even going to be on that show, right?”
April tried desperately to convince herself with her own words. She couldn’t lose Jade. It just wasn’t an option. She knew she wouldn’t survive that level of heartbreak.
“Exactly, she gave you space to make your choice knowing there’ll be a discussion about it tomorrow once you’re both in New York. That was always the plan, wasn’t it?” Lana said with a smile, trying to reassure April.
“Yeah,” April said softly, before nodding her head with increasing conviction, “Yeah, that’s still the plan. I’ll get to see her tomorrow.” The thought of that alone made April smile.
“Yes, you will,” Lana said, “So you better get ready to see her,” Lana winked and left the room.
Tomorrow, just one more day until I’m finally back in her arms again.
Their cases and her equipment bags had been processed at the luggage drop-off desk.
They’d also survived the trek through security.
Dani was now off getting some awful coffee drink, and April was sitting at the gate waiting to board.
For the first time ever, she carried her own boarding pass and passport.
It had always been something her dad took care of when they traveled.
It would take some work for them to change their relationship to be entirely parent and child, but things were already so much better than she’d anticipated. He was like an entirely different man in the space of a couple of days.
Dani had settled into the role with no issues, and April was enjoying the little bits of freedom she didn’t know she had been missing out on all these years. Something as small as carrying her own passport at 22 shouldn’t be this exciting. But it was.
She was also excited because she was that much closer to the time when she’d see Jade again. Even the thought of it was making her stomach swoop.
It had taken her a few hours to get over the initial disappointment that Jade hadn’t seen her interview, but she was ok with it now. She just had to look forward to the next day to see her partner and before the start of the tournament.
35 minutes later, their group was called for boarding. Dani had managed to get them First Class seats, but not together. April didn’t mind. She’d read, sleep, or watch a movie on the little screen on the back of the seat in front of her.
She settled into her seat, glad she was at the window, and took out her book while waiting for the other passengers to board. A few minutes later a voice stated, “Sorry, but I think you’re in my partner’s seat.”
April’s breath caught at the voice and turned to see the most beautiful woman in the world smiling down at her.
“Wha...what are you doing here?” April said confused, shocked and shaking.
“I’m taking my seat, next to partner, for us to fly to New York for the US Open,” Jade said through a grin, “You?”
April couldn’t believe it. Jade was here. She was sitting down. Right beside her for their flight.
“I, uhm, yeah, same...apparently,” she chuckled in disbelief as Jade sat down and reached her hand out across the gap between their seats. April looked at it for a second, before taking it in her own and pulling Jade into her arms as she felt tears fill her eyes. “So, I kind of did a thing.”
“I saw. My whole family did, and Cleo made Lana tell you I didn’t so that I could surprise you here,” Jade said, nuzzling into April’s neck. “Don’t be mad at her for it, or Dani for helping, they did it for me.”
“So, I can be mad at you instead then?” April laughed as she drew back and went to wipe away tears that were running down her cheeks, but Jade beat her to it.
“As long as it means I don’t have to go another week without the woman I love, then I’m good with that.
” Jade said with the warmest smile April had ever seen, her teary eyes holding April’s own watery gaze.
“Because I do, April, I love you. You’re the first woman I’ve ever said that to, and I’m glad I waited for it to be you. ”
April felt herself relax for the first time in weeks, since before her dad sat in her hotel room telling her his plan to curb the rumors about her.
She raised a hand up to cup Jade’s face, “Jade, I’m so in love with you I don’t want to ever be anywhere that isn’t in your arms again,” she pulled Jade in closer. Their lips met briefly before they pulled back with tear-streaked smiles on their faces.