Page 40 of The Mended Hearts Bookshop

George picked up his coffee and took a big slug. “Um, I don’t mean to pry, but…”

“Then don’t,” Ash said sharply. Was this what the problem had been all along? Was this why she’d never dreamed of walking down the aisle into the welcoming arms of a man? It seemed stupid but suddenly so clear.

“Aren’t you a bit old to have, well, you know? A revelation.” George said.

“I thought we’d established that you weren’t going to pry,” said Ash. “And I’m not that old. I’m sure plenty of people realize that sexuality is fluid when they’re far older than me.”

“Mmm,” agreed George looking thoughtful. “I’m not sure that too many women have a gay man to thank for their lesbian awakening though.”

Ash scowled at him and then, to her astonishment, George reached out across the counter and put his hand on hers.

“Ash, if you want to talk to someone about this, I’m here. If you’re serious about this and you’re only just realizing that life could be different, and if it’s confusing for you, I’m happy to listen whenever you like.”

“No,” Ash said, withdrawing her hand. “But not just because all that touchy-feely stuff makes me nauseous. I’m not confused. Actually, I’m a lot less confused than I was a few minutes ago.”

“You’re not having some kind of crisis then?”

“Why?” Ash asked honestly. “I mean, who cares whether I’m gay or not or half-way gay or whatever integers come in between that? It makes no difference in the long run. But it does give me a few more options.” A thought came to her. “Was Mary gay?”

“What?” asked George, eyes opening wide again. “No, not a bit.”

“Huh,” said Ash. It had been a bit of a stretch, she admitted to herself. But it would have been nice to package things neatly like that, to solve the mystery of why Mary was so happy alone at the same time as she started to make sense of her own world.

Ash’s phone started to ring. She pulled it out of her pocket to silence it, wanting to continue to explore this idea even if George wasn’t the sounding board she’d have chosen, but then she saw the number. A long number with far too many digits, strange ones too. Which could mean only one thing.

“Go fill the online orders,” she said. “I need to take this.”

George bit his lip and looked at her.

“I’m fine, Jesus, go do your job,” Ash barked.

He fled off down the stairs and Ash finally picked up the call.

“Mum?”

“… boat… call…”

“Mum? I can’t hear you,” Ash said.

There was crackling in response.

“Mum?” Ash said again. “The line is terrible.”

“...stupid Chilean phone system.”

“Mum?”

“I can hear you, stop saying mum!”

“That’s better.”

“Not much, and I’m running out of coins, I just wanted to check in. We’re fine. You?”

“Fine,” Ash said.

“I’m on my last few pesos,” her mother said.

Ash thought quickly. “Mum, do I have an Aunt Mary?”

---