Page 26 of The Wilder Widows

“Speak of the devil!” Doris waved over my shoulder, and I turned to see Marge walking past the restaurant doorway. She paused, and the little waitress appeared behind her.

“Get. Out,” I whispered when I saw them turn to face each other. Marge reached out and tucked a piece of the waitresses’ disheveled hair behind her ear. The three of us watched in silence while Marge leaned in, sliding her hand along the woman’s back and bending her backward into a knee-quaking kiss.

Our gasps merged into one while Marge kissed the waitress like a returning war hero seeing her long-lost love again. With one more peck on the lips, Marge stood her up, bid her goodbye, and marched into the restaurant with a grin so wide I thought her face may tear.

“Good morning, ladies.” She slid into her chair beside me while we all continued our slack-jawed stares. The waitress arrived with our mimosas, and by the time she finished placing them on the table, our jaws were finally snapping shut.

“You old cougar!” I laughed and punched her in the shoulder. “You did it, didn’t you?”

The stoic look on her face shattered as she broke into another grin. “It turns out I am a lesbian! I’m a HUGE lesbian!”

“All right, Marge!” I cheered, lifting my glass.

“And I do like sex! In fact, I love sex!”

“I’m so happy for you!” Sylvie lifted her own glass.

“I knew you weren’t asexual. I told you that you just hadn’t found the right person.”

“Roxy is amazing. She’s just incredible. We spent all night... you know.” She waggled her eyebrows.

“Bow chicka bow wow.” I sing-songed as I shimmied my shoulders.

She let out a long sigh, and her eyes shimmered with a newfound sparkle. “We talked all night, and... lady loved, and it was incredible. In fact, I think I’m in love.”

“Well, you know what they say lesbians do on their second date, don’t you?” I smiled, and only Sylvie laughed, knowing the answer.

“Bring a U-Haul.” Her laughter mingled with mine.

Marge blew out a puff of air. “It isn’t a joke if it’s true. I’d move in with her tomorrow if she’d let me. I told her I’d come back after we get done doing our wishes.”

“We couldn’t be happier for you, Marge.” Sylvie reached out and touched her hand. We all looked over to Doris, who still stared at her with wide eyes. “Doris? Do you have anything you’d like to say to Marge?”

“I’m sorry. I’m just shocked. I’ve known you for so many years, and I just had no idea.”

“Neither did I, really. I wondered, but I didn’t know. Now I know.” She closed her eyes and sighed, that new softer side of Marge surfacing once again.

“Well, I am happy for you, Marge. You deserve happiness.” Doris joined us in raising our glasses. “Here’s to Marge and... lesbian lady loving!”

The three of us exchanged a sideways glance and dissolved into laughter.

“See! I can be wild, too. I said it! I’m not a complete prude.”

“To lesbian lady loving!” I raised my glass high. We clinked them together, and each took a long swig of our mimosas.

“Well, now that we have Marge’s lesbianism sorted out, we need to figure out how to get me on stage. And I think I know just how to do it.”

They leaned in as I told them the plan I’d concocted last night while I’d done more high kicks than I had in decades.

CHAPTER SEVEN

The four of us stood outside the theatre staring up at the marquee lights.

“Does everyone know what they’re doing? You’ve got your parts?”

The three of them nodded.

“Good. We’ve got one last shot at this. One shot to get me back up on that stage.”