Kate walked into the tiny dive bar and struggled to get out of her heavy wool coat. When her eyes finally adjusted to the dim lighting, she spotted Julia sitting in the back corner surrounded by a haze of cigarette smoke. Julia smiled and waved.
With her head down, Kate pushed through the crowd trying not to touch the other patrons. “Why did you drag me to this place? It reeks of stale beer and greasy food,” Kate said when she reached the table.
Julia stood to kiss her, but Kate sat down gawking around the bar with her nose turned up without even looking a Julia. “Nice to see you too,” Julia said and sat back down.
“This place is disgusting. You know I hate it here.”
“Actually, no, I didn’t know you felt so strongly about it. I like it. It reminds me of my home town,” Julia said. “Do you want something to drink?”
“Yeah, I’ll have a rum and coke. Surely they can’t screw that up too badly.” Kate dug the hand sanitizer out of her purse. “Make sure the glass is clean.”
“Seriously, Kate. What’s up your ass? I haven’t seen you in a week, and you act like I’m the enemy.” Julia walked away to get their drinks.
When she returned Kate took her hand and said, “I’m sorry. I had a bad day. Why did you want to see me?”
Julia looked at Kate with sad eyes and didn’t say a word. Finally she shrugged and said, “I missed you. I just wanted to see you and talk to you. Are your parents still at your house?”
Kate sighed heavily but her shoulders remained tense. “They don’t leave until Wednesday. I told you I would call you when they left.”
“This isn’t right. Kate, we’ve been seeing each other for over two years. When are you going to tell you family about us. Are you really that ashamed of me?”
“Damn-it, Jules, you know this isn’t about you!” Kate looked away and spun the ice around in her glass. “They won’t understand.”
Julia shook her head and took a sip of her drink. “I can’t do this anymore. I can’t hide every time one of your family members comes to visit you. This is crap. If our relationship doesn’t mean enough to you for you to tell your family then it doesn’t mean enough for us to stay together.”
Kate put her hand on Julia’s arm to stop her from leaving. “Wait, please don’t go. I....I just need more time.”
“Time? You need more time? That’s supposed to keep me from leaving. You’re thirty-five years old, and you’ve been living in a closet your whole adult life. How much more time is it going to take?”
“I love you. I’ll tell them; I promise.” Kate twisted the paper napkin around her fingers.
“Call me when you figure this out.” Julia got up and walked away.
Kate finished her drink and ordered another.
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