“What the—” Carla’s words were stymied as she heard the door suddenly thrust open. Carla and Janice bolted upright and found Maurine standing just inside the door. A horrible noise of shock and surprise came from her just before she stifled it with the smack of her palm over her mouth.
Carla blinked, trying to make sense of her presence, but Maurine’s eyes remained wide open with obvious disbelief.
“Maurine,” Janice said, yanking the sheet up to cover their bodies.
Maurine spoke behind the cover of her hand, as if she couldn’t move it away from her mouth.
“I’ve been trying to call. Was worried about why you both left last night. I—” She shook her head. “You didn’t answer the door. I got scared. Used my key.” She searched both their faces as if desperate to find something, anything, that would disprove what she was seeing, what she was thinking. When she didn’t seem to find it, she turned away like the sight of them was too awful to continue to take in.
“Maurine,” Janice said again. Carla heard the panic in her voice. She reached to comfort her, but Janice swatted her away. “It’s not what it looks like.”
Carla looked at her with her own sense of shock. “It isn’t?”
Janice ignored her. “I—this—”
Maurine in turn, ignored Janice. Instead, she faced them and aimed a hate-filled stare at Carla.
“How could you, Carla Marie Sims? My best friend? My very best friend? It wasn’t enough for you to have everything else? Your expensive, fancy education, your steady job that you love, and your hip, progressive life in Phoenix that you left all of us for. Left Mama for. Because we just ain’t good enough for you are we, Carla? You got to have more. You got to have better. You got to have whatever it is you want, no matter how it affects anyone else.”
Carla shoved her way out from under the covers and stood next to the bed. She was so hurt and so angry her hands were balled into tight fists at her side.
“You’re way out of line, Maurine.”
Maurine scoffed. “Me? I’m out of line? I didn’t seduce your best friend, Carla.” She narrowed her eyes. “That’s why you wanted to stay here, isn’t it? So, you could get close to her and—”
“And what?” Carla seethed. “Worm my way in? Brainwash her? Work these, what, incredible gay magic powers you’re implying I have? That I just all of a sudden one day woke up and decided, you know what? I think I’ll go seduce Janice. Just for the hell of it. And of course, she’ll give in and sleep with me, because I’m that good. I’m that powerful. So powerful are my skills that I easily tricked her into having wild, passionate, mind-blowing, soul-shattering sex with me all night long. Tricked her into enjoying every second of it.” She clenched her jaw, her breathing now quick and ragged. “Do you know how fucking ridiculous you sound? But honestly, I don’t know why I’m surprised. I know why you’re saying these things. It’s because your insane, irrational accusations are a lot easier for you to believe and deal with than the truth. Because you can’t handle the truth.”
“And what’s that, Carla? That Janice, my very best friend in the whole world, that I’ve known forever, is suddenly a damn lesbian?” She laughed, shook her head. “She ain’t gay, Carla. I would know something like that.”
“Like you did me?”
“I didn’t know about you because you didn’t tell me. You kept it secret. Hid it.”
“And no one else could possibly do the same?”
“Janice wouldn’t do that. She would tell me.”
“Would she?”
“Yes, she would.”
“Why, because you’re so calm and understanding and supportive? You’re certainly proving that now, aren’t you?”
“She ain’t gay, Carla. She was married. To a man. You just took advantage of a lonely, vulnerable woman.”
“I see. It’s all me. The evil homosexual swooped in and corrupted yet another unsuspecting soul.” She laughed. “My God, you are ridiculous.”
“I’m just saying what I see.”
“No, you’re not. You’re refusing to accept what you’re seeing. Twisting it into something you can deal with. And apparently, demonizing me, your own niece, is what you’re willing to stoop to to do it. When all you really have to do is talk to your best friend. The very person you claim to be so close to and know so well. But you won’t even do that. You won’t even allow her to speak. Because you don’t want to hear it. So, you’d rather just tell her how she feels in a selfish, all-knowing, self-righteous sort of way rather than give her a chance to be heard, to be herself for the first time in her life.”
Maurine crossed her arms over her chest. “I’m saying what I’m saying because I know her, Carla. I’ve known her all her life. And I know her a whole lot better than you. But, whatever. I’ll listen. Janice, if you want to tell me how you feel, I’m all ears.” But before she faced Janice, she looked at Carla with disgust. “For God’s sake, put some clothes on.”
“Why? You worried you’re suddenly going to want a woman? I must have some serious fucking powers in your mind.”
“Get over yourself, Carla.” She looked to Janice. “Well?”
Janice shook her head, her mouth open but void of words.
“God, Maurine, you’re not exactly being a beacon of understanding and support.”
“I’m listening.”
Carla sighed.
“Well, Janice? Am I right? Or is Carla?”
“Maurine,” Carla said.
“I—” Janice said. “This is all happening so fast. I’m—I—”
Carla knew she was panicked, but she felt the sting of betrayal nonetheless in her reticence to admit how they felt about one another. And Maurine’s hard demeanor that implied an extreme lack of empathy or willingness to understand obviously wasn’t lost on Janice. She just kept stammering and staring at Maurine with wild eyes while clutching the sheet like a woman terrified to let go for fear of losing everything.
Maurine pushed out a breath. “See, Carla? She’s all tore up. She’s a wreck. She isn’t gay. You’ve got her all mixed up and confused and now she feels so guilty she’s scared to say anything.”
Carla pleaded with Janice, now knowing the only way to reach Maurine was for Janice to say something. Otherwise, Maurine was going to create an excuse for all of it. And Carla couldn’t let that happen. They couldn’t let that happen. Janice couldn’t let that happen. Could she?
But Janice wouldn’t hold her gaze and she wouldn’t say anything other than how this was all happening so fast.
“You should go now, Maurine,” Carla said. “You barging in here like this has caused a lot of chaos. We all need some time to cool down.”
Maurine didn’t seem to take her request lightly. “I’ll leave. But I’m not the one who should be going. You’re the one who should go. Go back to Phoenix where you belong. And get the fuck out of here before you cause any more trouble.”
“You get the fuck out, Maurine,” Carla said. “You weren’t invited.”