And those sessions with Jenny Foster became more important as each week passed. Crystal still refused to attend the Tuesday night women's support group but she found herself more willing to talk about her feelings with her therapist. The role playing and talking about her father were still difficult, often ending up with Crystal needing to take time to get her anger, or on rare occasion her tears, under control. Even then it always meant a long night for her and Laura as Crystal would stay up late talking to her best friend about what had happened in her therapy session and how she was feeling. Laura never seemed to mind the heavy conversations, even making the point of asking about them whenever she knew Crystal had a session scheduled for that day. The two women had gotten into a habit when it came to talk, sitting on opposite ends of the couch with their feet sharing the middle cushion. It made it easier for Crystal to talk, giving her the space she needed but still close enough to get a hug when the pain was too great.

Turning onto the highway, Crystal let her thoughts drift to the relationship she and Laura shared. Since Helen's observation opened her eyes, Crystal found herself very aware of her roommate's presence and actions. There was never anything sexual or even romantic about the way Laura treated her but Crystal was aware of the affection and closeness building between them. It was the little things, she decided. A casual brush against her shoulder whenever the writer passed by, the dinner waiting for her each night, the evenings spent together on the couch watching television or sitting at the table working on the modules for the GED exam. Crystal could swear once she even felt Laura's lips brush against the top of her head during an intensely emotional chat session where she had sought the safety of the writer's embrace to release tears that otherwise refused to fall.

Rather than being disturbed by the growing closeness, Crystal found herself most agreeable to it. She willingly tagged along to the softball games and inevitable trips to the lesbian bar afterward. When Bobby left for college, Crystal went with Laura to wish him good luck, even accepting a hug from the young man and tousling his blond hair as if he were her own little brother. Since her early working hours meant that she was usually the first one up in the mornings, Crystal had taken it upon herself to make sure there was always fresh coffee waiting for when Laura awakened. Then of course there was the way the two of them had come to an unspoken compromise with each other in terms of their vastly different attitudes toward neatness and order. Crystal made sure she put the newspaper back into some semblance of order and Laura had not made a comment in quite a while about the panties that dried on the shower rod each day.

Tonight was a special night and Crystal could only smile to herself and glance over at the brightly wrapped package sitting on the passenger seat. It was Laura's birthday and despite how tight her funds were, Crystal was bound and determined to get her best friend a special present. It had taken several trips to various stores before she passed a kiosk in the middle of the mall and spotted the perfect present sitting on an upper shelf. With little thought to the cost, she ordered it, paying extra for the special items she wanted on it and waiting over two weeks for it to come in. Crystal wanted to pick up a birthday card but after checking dozens of them could not find one to properly express how she felt about Laura. In the end she gave up, deciding that the present was always appreciated more than the card. Now the time had come to finally take it out of the car and give it to her friend and Crystal found herself oddly nervous as she approached their townhouse complex. Would Laura really like it? Would a gift certificate have been better? Shaking the thoughts out of her mind, Crystal guided the Omni into the parking space and shut the ignition off, listening unhappily as the car continued to sputter and run for a few seconds before finally going silent.

When she entered the house, Crystal was surprised not to see Laura waiting downstairs for her as had been the case for every evening for the last few weeks. The faint sound of the shower clued her as to where Laura was and Crystal quickly hid the present between the couch and the bookshelf, planning on giving it after dinner. Walking into the kitchen, she was surprised to find that dinner was not in the oven nor were there any signs that Laura was planning on making anything. Confused, Crystal returned to the living room and sat down on the couch. Laura had not said anything to her about going out for dinner. Hearing the shower stop, Crystal shifted sideways so she could see the stairs. "I'm home," she called when Laura stepped out of the bathroom.

"I'll be down in a few minutes," came the reply before the door to Laura's bedroom shut.

When Laura came downstairs a few minutes later, Crystal was surprised to see her wearing sweat pants and a lavender t-shirt displaying a double women's symbol. Certainly not an outfit to wear if going out to dinner. "How was work?" Laura asked.

"Busy. We're trying to finish up everything by the first week in October and I think it's going to be close. You have plans for dinner?"

"Yes, veggie pizza from Coloso's," Laura said as she took her usual seat on the couch, propping her bare feet on the center cushion and smiling at the face Crystal made at the suggestion. "I ordered you a supreme, no anchovies and there's a pepperoni, mushroom and a cheese one coming as well. They should be here by seven."

Now Crystal was really confused. "Why so many pizzas?"

"The boys are coming over, so is Jenny. Didn't I tell you?"

"No."

"We always have a pizza party for my birthday. I'm sorry, I must have forgotten to mention it."

"Oh, that's fine. I just thought well, never mind what I thought," Crystal said. "Happy birthday, by the way."

"Thanks. Jenny should be here in a few minutes and Peter called. They're running late but they should be here by seven thirty. We'll just reheat the pizza if we need to."

"Sounds like fun." Crystal tried to keep her voice cheerful but inside she was even more nervous than before. It was one thing to give Laura her present alone, it was quite another to have it opened in front of everyone else. Why didn't I get a gift certificate instead? "Um, if they're all coming over, I'd better go change." She went to stand up but found herself stopped by Laura's hand on her wrist.

"Wait a minute. Are you okay? Seems like something is bothering you."

"No," she lied. "I'm probably just tired from work. I'll take a shower and change. Be down in a little bit."

"Hey Crystal?"

"Yeah?"

"Going for a new style with your hair?" Laura grinned. "I don't think white on blonde is a good combination."

"What?" Crystal reached up and sure enough felt more than one spot where white paint had taken residence on her head. "Must have been when I was doing the cutting in near the ceiling. I had the brush above my head most of the time." Aware of the time, she stood up and scooted past Laura on her way to the stairs. "Did you save me any hot water?"

"Better make it a quick shower, I'm afraid," Laura said apologetically. "I had to wait for the dishwasher to finish before I went in to take mine."

Crystal nodded, knowing her hair would have to be washed first lest the hot water ran out and she was unable to get the paint out. The last thing she wanted was to face their mutual friends with streaks or spots of white in her hair. As she made her way up the stairs, Crystal lifted her arm and sniffed delicately, deciding there was something far more offensive she did not want to face her friends with. She only hoped the hot water would last long enough.

Crystal finished her shower and was just coming down the stairs when the doorbell rang. "I'll get it," Laura called.

"Well happy twenty-ninth birthday!" Jenny said when the door opened, giving her ex-lover a kiss on the cheek along with a one armed hug, the other hand holding Laura's present.

"Thank you, hon." Laura set the present on the side table and motioned at the couch. "Do you want something to drink? The pizza won't be here for at least fifteen minutes or so."

"You know what I like," Jenny said. "Hi Crystal."

"Hi Doc."

"Have a seat," Laura said. "Crystal, can I get you anything?"

"I'm all set," she replied, resuming her seat at the end of the couch. A quick glance over the side showed her present was still hidden from view. Jenny sat down at the other end and kicked her shoes under the table.

"Are the boys coming?" Jenny asked.

"They're running late but they said they'd be here. Jen, orange or root beer?"

"Orange sounds good. Goes well with pepperoni pizza." Jenny leaned over and lowered her voice so it would not carry to the kitchen. "So what'd you get her?"

Crystal fidgeted. "Well um just a little something. What did you get her?"

"Un uh, you don't tell, I don't tell." Jenny smiled and straightened up just as Laura came out of the kitchen with two tall glasses of soda in her hands. Frowning, Crystal looked over at the side table where a flat rectangular shirt box wrapped with red paper sat and tried to figure out what could be hidden inside.

"Here you go," the writer said, handing one glass to Jenny and keeping the other for herself, settling down into the chair. "Guess who I heard from today."

"Who?"

"Use a coaster please."

Jenny rolled her eyes and reached for a coaster. "Better? Now who called?"

"Shelly," Laura said with a smile.

"Shelly? Jet setting Shelly? What's she been up to?"