On a 10+, June is willing, +1 Forward

You sit at your kitchen table, holding hands with June Phillips, who is wearing your daughter's old pajamas.

"I'd like to find out what it means if you stay for me," you tell June.

"Gloria?" June asks.

"Will you come to bed with me?" you ask.

"Yes," June says. "Yes, Gloria."

Hands clasped, you rise from the kitchen table. June makes a move to tidy her mug.

"That can wait a moment," you say. "Just put it down on the table."

You pull June close and embrace her. She trembles against you and holds you tighter. She has to tilt her chin up to rest it on your shoulder, while you have to tilt yours down. It's easy for you to kiss her on the temple through her coppery hair, or nuzzle her ear.

"Do you think you were a lesbian?" June asks. "Before Mary and all?"

"I don't know," you say. "It never occurred to me. Did you ever wonder?"

June says, "I did kind of wonder. My best girlfriend in high school, I mean, she dated guys, but after she left for college, that was it. Just girls. After that I wondered a little. But I never met That Guy, much less That Girl. I was too busy, really. Pre-nursing, then nursing school."

You cuddle June close. "I remember nursing school. I was this close to dropping out," you say, squeezing her tight.

"Are you glad you stayed?" June asks.

"Yes," you say. For a time, there are no more words as you stand together in close embrace, sharing your warmth with each other.

You stroke June's red hair and tell her, "All right, now. Let me get the cups."

You rinse your coffee mug and June's mug of milky, sweet instant latte and put them in the top rack of the dishwasher.

"This way," you say.

June takes your hand and follows you eagerly to the master bedroom.