The last room we stopped by was her old coach’s office. He took his glasses off as she knocked on his open door. “Michelle! What a surprise.” The older man stood and walked around his desk and gave Mitch a hug. “I’ve been watching you, young lady. You’ve gotten much better.”
“Thanks, coach. It’s all her fault. Coach Brenneman, this is my doubles partner, and my girlfriend, Cindy Spencer.”
He shook my hand and we all sat. Looking around the room I saw multiple pictures of young women on his wall, wearing various division one college uniforms. Sure enough just over his right shoulder was a picture of Mitch preparing to receive a serve, wearing her black shorts and red polo embroidered with the Georgia ‘G’.
“So I made the Wall of Fame, huh?”
“Of course, you’ve made me very proud. And I’ve seen you, too, young lady,” he nodded toward me, “you’re quite a player, too. I didn’t know you were seeing each other, though. Must be why you move so well together on the court.”
I blushed. “Thanks.”
“She’s taught me a lot, coach.”
“Yeah, likely the same things I tried to teach you for four years. Maybe I just wasn’t pretty enough.” He shot her a half smile, now it was Mitch’s turn to blush.
There was a knock on the door, and Mitch turned around, seeing a diminutive woman in a nice suit with bobbed brown hair and big glasses.
“Principal Solomon!” Mitch jumped and shook the small woman’s hand.
“I heard a certain Wall-of-Famer was wandering about the halls. Thought I might find you here. Just wanted to be sure I got a chance to say hello. And to meet the lucky lady you’ve been showing around.”
***
As we drove away I was shocked. “You really were popular.”
“What can I say? People love me.”
“And no one was surprised with you having a girlfriend.”
“My sexuality hasn’t been a secret since middle school. Actually, it’s never been a secret. Soon as I knew, so did everybody else. And what did Principal Solomon say to you when Coach and I were talking?”
I reached out and took Mitch’s hand. “That I was a very lucky young lady.”
“Well, that was obvious.”
Mitch flashed that playfully wicked smile of hers, and I laughed, feeling the warmth of her radiating up from our handclasp.
***
“So where are we going tonight?”
Mrs. Kirkpatrick smiled as we walked down the street at Hyde Park Village. “It’s called ‘The Black Pearl.’ It’s fancy, a little pretentious, but it’s very good. Jack made reservations over a month ago. He wants to impress you, I think.”
“What do you wear?”
“Not jeans. Jack’ll wear a tie, I usually wear a dress. We eat there sometimes when we go to the theater, or for our anniversary.”
“It’ll be new for me. I’ve never been anywhere fancy like that.” I shook my head. “My family’s idea of fine dining was Applebee’s.”
“Michelle said they were very conservative.”
“Ha. That’s putting it mildly.”
“I take it they don’t know about you and my daughter.”
I shook my head. “I’m not lucky like Mitch, I mean Michelle.”
“It wasn’t easy for me, I’ll admit it. Not that I didn’t have a clue, of course, but I didn’t want it to be true, so I ignored all the signs. Eventually she’ll discover makeup and dresses. I told myself, a lot of girls are tomboys when they’re little.”
I giggled for a moment before covering my mouth. “I’m sorry. Just the thought of your daughter in heels and makeup.”
She covered her mouth, and we laughed together for a moment.
Eventually I regained my composure. “Okay, I guess I need a dress, then.” We went to a few different stores. Nice ones, at least a lot nicer than any other store at which I’d ever actually bought anything. Stacy took pictures of anything I liked, and as we left the second store I’d tried almost a dozen different dresses, with a few definite possibilities.
I couldn’t help the grin on my face. “This is fun, I’ve never done anything like this.”
“Didn’t your mom at least take you shopping for a prom dress?”
“My Junior prom I wore a cotton summer dress like I’d wear to church. For Senior year we went to one store and mom picked something out. Ankle length, high neckline with half sleeves.” I indicated where it had sat, above my collarbone and down to my elbows.
“Seriously?”
“Everything had to meet Dad’s approval. If it didn’t, it went back. And if you couldn’t take it back, man, he’d be upset. It’s hard to find women’s shorts that come down past your fingertips. ”
“But he let you play tennis.”
“My coach in high school actually ordered me extra long skirts for my uniform. Luckily they had them, or my mom would have had to make them herself.”
“Well, if you’re game, we can go a little more daring today.” She nudged me with her shoulder, and we both giggled as we strode down the sidewalk..
I liked the next store the best, and we had it narrowed down to a green high low beauty with a sweetheart neckline under a high necked lace bodice, and an elegant, but much more daring, front twist chiffon maxi. It was a muted pink, and it really popped with my blonde hair, but it would definitely be the most daring thing I’d ever worn. There was a fancy bow in the back, and a slit in the side clean up to my hip, as Reba would say.
The bra was built in, and the skirt was just barely translucent so you could just make out the shape of my legs underneath the material if the light was right.
“I really think that’s the one, Cindy.” The salesgirl nodded in agreement, and I twirled one more time in the mirror.
“Yeah. I like it. It’s not too much?”
Mrs. Kirkpatrick just smiled at me. “Cindy, it’s perfect. You look beautiful.”
“Okay. Let’s do it.”
It didn’t end there, we needed shoes, and I ended up with a gladiator style two inch heel, which I loved. We walked past a little store that had casual clothes on the mannequins in their window, including several pairs of cute little high-waisted short shorts that I’d never been allowed to own. Apparently I looked a little too longingly, and Stacy stopped me at the entrance.
“You like those?”
“Yeah, but I can’t. That’s exactly what I’d always wanted and could never have. My mother would have a fit, and my dad would disown me.”
“And if they find out you’re dating my daughter?”
“Same.”
She laughed, but honestly I wasn’t trying to be funny. “You realize I’m not kidding, right?”
“Oh, sweetie.” She linked her arm in mine and led me over to a nearby bench. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah, I’m having a great time. I just, um,” I folded my hands in my lap and looked down.
“You wish you were doing this with your mom.”
“I wish my mom and I had this kind of relationship.”
“Well, you’re an adult now. You get to have a say in what kind of relationship you have.” I tried to grin and nod, but she didn’t buy it. “Cindy, when Michelle came out, she rejected everything I’d ever wanted for my precious little girl. That was very hard for me, and there was some real distance between us. So, we had to find a new relationship. I suddenly had to care about sports, something I still struggle with, honestly,” she giggled. “And she reached out in her own way, and when she did I realized how terrified I’d been of losing her. But the most important thing was that I was able to get to know the real Michelle, my real daughter. And she’s pretty amazing. I couldn’t be prouder. And someday, maybe your mom will be willing to get to know the real you.”
I gave her a hug. Stacy gives great hugs.
When she pulled away she pulled a Kleenex out of her bag and dabbed at my misty eyes. “So, does the real you want a new pair of shorts?”
That made me laugh, and we headed into the store.
I came out with two complete outfits, feeling a little naughty, but excited to see what Mitch would think. We had to go back and pick up my dress, which they’d brought in just a smidge. It fit like a glove, and even without makeup or hair done I couldn’t believe what I was seeing in the mirror.
We made it back just after the three-thirty kickoff of the Florida-Georgia game, and I cuddled up with Mitch on the couch to watch. I was still learning about the intricacies and traditions, but what I really loved was watching Mitch get all excited. She’d get mad if I ever said it, but she’s really cute when that happens.
Our reservations were at eight-fifteen, so as soon as the game finished shortly after seven I headed into the master bathroom to get ready. Stacy had graciously gifted me the use of her and Jack’s master bath, along with her vanity and mirror. I was grateful, mostly because I wanted to see Mitch’s face when I emerged, something that wouldn’t be as dramatic if she was able to witness the work in progress.
To be honest, I was stunned when I finally saw myself in Stacy’s full length mirror. I looked like a woman grown. My mother had given me the basics in how to put on makeup, but blush and mascara had been forbidden. It wasn’t tonight, though, and Stacy helped me pick out a dusty rose pink with matching lipstick and just a touch of blush. I didn’t look made up, but my face seemed to pop out of the mirror. My hair bounced out of the rollers I’d borrowed, and Stacy helped me put it up into a high ponytail, pinned back over my ears and lengthening my neck.
And it was all worth it when I saw Mitch’s eyes widen as she took me in.
“Oh, Cindy.”
I swished my dress, baring my toned leg up to my thigh. “Do I look okay?”
“Baby, just, wow.”