Dear Reader,

I took some time off and rewrote the story from the beginning. I'm pleased and wanted to share them with my readers. I've inserted the newer version here.
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Three
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She saw a sparkling ocean beyond the tree line. Walking carefully down to the beach, she marveled at how soft the sand was as she dipped a toe into the water. Rows of shells and coral washed up from the incoming tide surrounded her, and she could see tiny crabs climbing in and out of what remained after the tide went back out.

Jenn checked her watch. She saw A woman in scrubs enter the Recovery Lounge and come over. “Hi, Jenn. I’m Teri’s other nurse, Robyn, and it’s time to wake her up. Come on back with me.”

Jenn shoved everything into her backpack and followed the nurse into a room. Then she saw Teri just lying there. She was pale, her lips were white, and she was breathing very softly. Her eyes were closed, and she looked so tiny in the big bed surrounded by all those machines. She had tubes connected to her. All the sounds were mechanical. The monitor’s beeping, the blood pressure cuff inflating, and the noise of the ice machine all looked like the set of a Hollywood horror movie.

Jenn felt the tears streaming down her face. It was too much for her to comprehend.

Robyn came over and held her hand. “It’s okay. Remember, she’s unconscious and just coming out of surgery.”

Jenn’s voice was no louder than a whisper. “Is she all right? She looks so pale.”

Robyn smiled. “Well, she just went through six hours of major surgery. It’s going to take her body time to recover. Just stand here and watch the action.”

Jenn looked on as Robyn started adjusting the controls, sending fluids into Teri’s body through a port on her hand. “I’m giving her a wake-up call, and we’re flushing any sedatives still lingering from the operating room. Give her a minute or two to figure it all out.

Without hesitating, she walked into the warm ocean, smiling at how wonderful the water felt. Holding her breath, she lowered her head under the waves and began swimming deeper.

She saw schools of fish swimming together and the deeper she swam the more schools swam by. As she swam along, she noticed the light from above was getting brighter. She headed towards the surface and the sun. As her head broke through, she could hear sounds and opened her eyes.

The phone was beeping, and someone was running a vacuum. Lying in her old bed at her mom's house, Teri knew she should answer her phone. She lifted her head to look for it

But when she moved, everything spun around violently. She attempted to scream, but the pain in her throat was terrible.

Suddenly, a face loomed so close that she couldn’t focus. “Welcome back, Teri Nelson. I’m Robyn, your nurse on the recovery floor. You’ve just come out of surgery.”

Robyn patted her hand reassuringly, “Honey, the operation’s over, and everything went well.” She continued speaking as she busied herself with the bed. “Your throat and tongue ache where they inserted a breathing tube during surgery. It’s been replaced with a cannula feeding oxygen for you to help you breathe easier. In a minute, I’m going to get you some crushed ice and bring you a soda.”

Teri couldn’t feel anything below her waist. She heard a machine between her legs. She lifted her blanket to look.

Robyn watched her closely. “That’s the sound of an icing machine for your surgical area. It’s essential to keep the swelling under control. Right now, you’re still numbed from your operation and packed with gauze to maintain the shape of your new vagina. There’s a drain inside to remove all the fluid, and a catheter in your urethra. Those bags are under your bed. Everything comes out before we get you up and walking around.”

Teri listened, but her mind drifted. As everything aligned, she realized she’d been given a gift.

She took a deep breath. The surgery was over. Instead of the fear of falling into a bottomless chasm, she prepared herself to leap hurdles.

Back when her intersex diagnosis was coming to light and the estrogen was causing her body to head into puberty, she remembered many dialogues with her counselor, Grace Goldman.

“I don’t know, Grace. I’m totally unprepared for what’s happening to me. I’ve had no practice being female other than dressing up to play in our rock band. And that really wasn’t practicing being a real woman. As Jenn reminded me, I really wasn’t playing the role of a girl, but of a hard rock goddess. She pointed out that there wasn’t much femininity about Joan Jett or even Pat Benatar. Sure, those women could rock in heels, tight outfits, and makeup, but I was play acting and pretending to be them.”

Teri remembered Grace listening and nodding. “You’re struggling to fit it. But you’re trying too hard to meet expectations that don’t exist. It’s your mind that is setting you up for failure.”

“Yeah, Grace. Sometimes I wish for the old days when I could wear the same jeans for weeks, and a shower just meant standing in the hot water for ten minutes.”

When Grace laughed out loud, Teri remembered continuing.

Teri grinned. “Playing in the band as a female avatar taught me how to look like a twenty-two-year-old girl. I started taking shorter strides to navigate in high heels, but I had no girl thoughts. Even when I played the guitar, I wasn’t thinking about Taylor Swift or Olivia Rodrigo. I wasn’t pretending to be Adelle or Mariah Carey. I was thinking about Jimi Hendrix and Eric Clapton. I don’t yearn for curling up in fluffy blankets, clutching stuffed animals, or dreaming about boys. That might have been Tasha if she was real, but once Amos beat the snot out of her and was going to rape then kill her, that whole fantasy turned into a nightmare. Suddenly, being naive was dangerous, and I saw that there were predators out there waiting to snuff me out.”

“You know, once I abandoned Tasha, I struggled to step forward and become who I thought I should be. Sure, I changed the spelling of my name, but deep inside, no girl thoughts were going on. I wasn’t really Teri. I was still the eighteen-year-old guy dressing up and pretending to be Jimmy Paige.”

Grace sat and listened. “I hear you, but you’ve made changes, didn’t you?”

“Well, yeah. All I started wearing were girls’ clothes, I washed with body wash, and used goopy products in my heavily styled punk hairdo. I looked like a girl and smelled like a girl. I’d become compulsive about not going out without a little makeup. And I made the time to look nice. I think that’s when I stopped acting like a guy. Now, I’m different. I’ve imitated the Wildcats for so long, it’s become me. It’s crazy.”

Grace smiled. “You haven't told me anything new. Tell me about how the summer tour helped.”

“Well, a while back, I had time to think about who I was and how I wanted to appear. I looked at the other Wildcats and used them as my role models. It was strange to stop worrying about thinking like a girl. And that’s when I knew that I could be female without becoming a Barbie. I could dress up on stage at night, but still wear sweats during the day as long as they were Capris and tiny tee shirts.”

“That’s progress. You needed to build on that.”

“Yeah. And suddenly I had to wear a bra because I needed it. Those tight tees and thin sweatshirts only accented my changing shape. It was strange to look in the mirror and see my butt cheeks rounding out. Even my hips and upper thighs were thickening. I read about it, and even though my bone structure was not female, it wasn’t male either. I never had big shoulders or a broad chest.”

“It was so strange to realize I was going through puberty. I’d been judging myself through the wrong eyes. I was seeing myself as an underdeveloped male who would eventually change. Instead, as my fat headed towards different parts of my body, it was scary.”

Teri smiled and remembered when Grace reached out and held her hand. She could still remember yearning to be in her arms. That’s when she realized that having a female body wasn’t what was determining who she was attracted to. Teri smiled when she realized it was simple. She liked women and never had any doubt about her preferences. And after having sex in Chicago with Jenn’s sister and her boyfriend, an attractive guy, it solidified her choices. She stopped worrying. She might have been physically going through puberty as the estrogen flowed through her, but she was still the same. Loving Jenn and playing music was her life.

Teri remembered talking to Grace after she visited Chicago about her group sex night. “I realized that I still fit into my world. There are female gamers, geeks, and nerds. And all the Wildcats were jocks who played sports at Allentown High School. They weren’t Barbies, even though they glammed up to play to their fans. It was great to realize that there was still room for me in this world.”

Grace was smiling. “You’ve come a long way in your journey. I like the way you’ve stayed positive and rational. You’re a very mature young woman.”

“I guess I’ve had to grow up quickly. I wasn’t given many choices. I mean, when I survived Amos’s madness and not dying in a shitty fifties kitchen down the shore in Sea Isle, I realized that I needed to give myself a break.”

Grace nodded her head for her to continue.

“The women in the Wildcats are as gorgeous as fashion models, but none of them had much interest in the trappings of the ultra-feminine girly girl. That’s when I knew I could be myself and still be a woman.”

Grace smiled. “Are you comfortable that it’s a decision? It’s not a rationalization?”

“Well, that’s when I started thinking seriously about having a vagina. Back when the doctors told me that my testicles weren’t real but simply fibrous masses that could lead to tumors, we agreed to have them removed. And I knew that my tiny penis was merely a clitoris, it became pretty obvious that my body was more female than male. And when we knew my ovaries were creating estrogen inside me, I figured I was just missing a vagina. Since I didn’t have any male genitalia, there was literally nothing to lose.”

Grace smiled. “I hear you, and it makes sense. But sexual reassignment surgery is a long process that you’ll need to research. I recommend that we contact a surgeon and talk to some post-operative people before you go much further.”

Teri remembered that moment and how she stood and hugged Grace. “Saying all of this out loud makes me feel more confident. My mom’s boss is a doctor who works with transitioning people. He’s been involved with helping me from the beginning. And then there’s Jessica Jade.”

Grace spoke as she nodded. “That sounds like a good place to start. Remember that knowledge is power.”

Teri tried to clear her head and focus. She smiled at Robyn but was having trouble concentrating. Her eyes kept closing. She felt a squeeze on her arm.

Robyn spoke. “Teri, we’re here to take care of you, sweetheart. Besides fluids, you’re also getting a strong dose of painkillers. Just remember that everything went fine. Now, rest your eyes, and I’ll get you those ice chips.”

Teri watched the blurry form leave the room. She took deep breaths. Her brain was moving slowly, and she was high. She amused herself listening to the rhythm of the beeps, trying to use the sound as a metronome. She’d hum but kept forgetting what song she had in her head.

She looked over and saw Jenn. It was hard to focus, and it was a little cloudy. But Teri just knew it was her.

Robyn returned holding two large Styrofoam cups. “Here you go. Jenn’s going to feed you ice very slowly. Now take your time because choking is a real no-no.”

As she felt the bed lifting slowly, she heard a motor vibrating under her. When her head and trunk were raised, Teri saw she had a picture window, and the walls were painted a faded green. Her nurse, Robyn, was wearing dark blue scrubs.

She was so high, she was in a dreamland. But then she thought about a dream she’d had.

It had been so familiar. Teri remembered when Grace had helped her deal with her fears and anxiety after she was kidnapped. Together, she’d guided Teri and encouraged her to use her imagination to create a special safe place. In her sessions, Teri imagined she was standing on the top of a hill, bright green grass under her feet, with flowers growing everywhere. She’d feel the breeze and hear the buzzing of the insects. Everywhere she’d look, she’d see beauty and feel safe.

Now she was in a hospital world, wrapped in a warm, protected cocktail of painkillers that made everything warm and fuzzy. Her mind moved slowly. No pain, no fears. But she remembered traveling to her safe world and wondered if she’d been dreaming during her operation.

She watched as Jenn dipped a long-handled plastic spoon into the cup and brought out ice shards. Jenn smiled and waited until Teri opened her mouth and fed them to her.

“I’m a baby bird,” Teri croaked as the first shards melted on her tongue and trickled down her throat. She savored the ice and used her tongue to run it around her mouth before letting it slide down her bruised throat. “Geez, I have a terrible taste in my mouth.”

Jenn shrugged, then filled the spoon until it was empty.

Robyn lifted the sheet and checked Teri’s legs. “You’re wearing elastic support stockings to prevent blood clots. Let me know if they start to rub.” She smiled. “Now, are you ready to try a soda?”

Teri croaked out, “Please.”

Robyn handed Jenn a can of Coke and another cup of ice. There was a bendable straw attached to the cup. Robyn looked at Teri. “Okay. You’re only going to get a little bit at a time, and I’m going to let you hold the cup.”

When the soda was gone, she spoke to her patient. “Remember that you have a catheter in your urethra. You can’t feel it, but try to relax your bladder and just let it go. Don’t try to squeeze your muscles and hold back. We want you to make sure everything works.”

Teri turned to Robyn. “Hey, could I have dreamed during my operation?”
 
Robyn shrugged. “It’s possible. Some anesthetics can give you vivid dreams. Ask your doctor when you see her.”
 
Teri was wide-eyed. “Well, I had the coolest dream. I was on a hilltop, and then swimming in the ocean. Everything was in color, and amazing.”

Teri nodded as she felt the bed being lowered. She saw Robin adjust the IV drips on a touchpad near the bags. “It’s time to rest. Kiss Jenn and close your eyes, honey. When you wake up, I’ll introduce you to Julia, the other nurse in this wing.”

As she closed her eyes, Teri took a deep breath and smiled. Everything was okay.

Gina called Richard immediately after talking to Jenn. He picked up and cheerily said, “Hey, Gina! How’s your vacation coming along?”

“Richard, it’s been great relaxing with all the rich people in the luxury of the East Side of Manhattan, but I need to head into Philly.”

“Right, a visit to the hospital? Phil and I were just discussing the good news about our wonder girl. Would you like me to arrange transportation?”

Gina smiled. “Sure. I was hoping you could do that.”

“Of course, I can. That’s my job. I’m guessing you want to head out in the morning.”

“I do.”

“How about ten o’clock? You’ll miss all the congestion of rush hour traffic. I’ll have the driver call up to you when he’s out front.”

“Thank you.”

“Well, tell everyone, especially Teri, we’re sending our best wishes. We found the perfect gift for her.”

“A gift, huh? What’d you get her?”

“I searched out and found three mint condition live vinyl albums - Jimi Hendrix’s Band of Gypsys; The Allman Brothers Live At Filmore East; and Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble Live at the Austin City Limits.”

“Oh, my gosh. You must have paid a fortune for those. You know she’s going to totally flip out. It will be guaranteed to brighten her day.”

“Good. Your driver will have the package in the car when they pick you up. You can be our delivery person.”

“Okay, Richard, and thanks for arranging the ride.”

“Just make sure you tell everyone that we send our love.”

“I will. What have you and Phil been doing?”

“We’ve been spending Wildcat money on fancy dinners, Broadway shows, wonderful new designer clothing, and a bit of travel, too. All the pampering we can give ourselves after a long, hot summer.”

“Seriously?”

“No. We’re just enjoying a bit of quiet time. Phil’s headed back to the house and the studio in a couple of weeks to warm things up. We’re guessing that the band will be itching by then. Currently, I’m coordinating plans for the European leg of the tour and reviewing Wildcats merchandise. If the tour starts to sell out, we’re also considering Asia and Australia. Bill Wiggins, Ghibli, and Conor are still looking at capitalizing on the momentum you’ve created.”

“Seriously?”

“Sure. Strange as it sounds, we’ve been approached by toy companies for Wildcats figures and a scale-sized tour bus. There’s even a stage made by unfolding the boxes. And they are even talking about a Wildcats Anime cartoon.”

“That’s so crazy! I’m thinking about you guys. The two of you deserve something special after steering all the craziness of this summer tour.”

“Speaking of our tour, don’t forget that the Wildcats are booked for Thanksgiving as the backup band for Beyoncé and Taylor Swift on SNL, right?”

“Oh, I heard. Who could forget that? How cool is that going to be? I mean, we did a whole set with them at the Rose Bowl. Whoever thought that Teri’s bright idea to have the two biggest pop stars in the universe do a show together would become the most talked-about thing on the internet. And to think that the Wildcats played behind the most successful pop stars of today.”

“Well, it was an amazing moment, and the fundraiser is still going on. Warner’s has arranged to continue downloading all the songs and making a video available as well. And they’re using Teri’s idea of pay what you think it’s worth as part of the charity. It’s going to set records with all the money it will raise.”

“Yeah. Pretty cool.”

“Well, it’s going to be even cooler when the Wildcats head up to Rockefeller Center to rehearse with the stars. Are you guys interested in doing any of the skits for SNL? It would mean you’d need to be in New York for the whole week?”

Gina laughed. “Well, I can’t speak for the rest of the guys but I’m totally in. Rehearsing with the cast and doing skits, wow. How much fun will that be? But I don’t know about Zoe and Teri.”

“Well, we’ll have to see just how exciting it’ll be. Zoe will either be bursting with a baby or recently postpartum. And of course, Teri will still be dealing with post-operative recovery efforts of her surgery, too.”

Gina laughed. “Yeah. The Wildcats have conquered bigger challenges in the past. Imagine Zoe giving birth at Thirty Rock!”

“Oh, no, Gina. I’m trying not to even think about the logistics of having a Thanksgiving baby. Dealing with all the unknowns is always stressful, but just the thought of delivering a baby live on TV is inconceivable. But we will have a team standing by, just in case. Now, speaking of crazy, both Taylor and Beyoncé want you guys to help write and produce a special Christmas charity album for the two of them. Lorne Michaels wants to create a one-hour TV special for the Wildcats, Taylor Swift, and Beyoncé. He thinks that the band can write songs, play, and sing on the show, too.”

“Oh, wow. That’s a crazy idea. But that’s looking for new songs in less than three months!”

Richard laughed. “I know, crazy, right? But both women have unpublished songs that can be reworked into a seasonal album.. And they want Teri to arrange their songs so that they can perform them together. The Wildcats just need a couple of songs, too. And don’t forget that the band is the musical guest on the SNL Christmas show, too.”

“Richard, that would be so crazy! Everyone will be excited. I can’t wait to hear what they each have to say.”

“Well, speaking of that, when was the last time you talked to your dad? He’s got something to share, and I won’t spoil the surprise.”

Gina nodded. “A surprise, huh? Okay, I’ll call him at work tomorrow when I’m in the limo. If I call him at home tonight, Mom will get on, and he’ll sneak off and have a Scotch and a cigar somewhere else. Mom is the one who always wants to talk.”

“Well, when I hang up, I’ll arrange your transportation. Have fun!”

After talking with Richard and hearing about Teri’s present, Gina began to think about something for Grace. She wanted to buy her a gift that she would know came from her heart. She flopped down on the couch in Grace’s small study while staring out the picture window, which offered the best view of Central Park.

As she was sitting there staring out at the beautiful view, Gina got an idea. She called Grace’s favorite gallery owner and in a few minutes, she outlined what she had in mind. The gallery owner was just as excited as Gina was with her idea. It was really simple. Knowing that Grace filled her office with her favorite photos and paintings, Gina figured she would have a painting of the view from the sixteenth floor to hang in her second-floor office, especially if it was painted by a favorite artist. It would be a great surprise. Gina took a deep breath and relaxed.

Grace had refused every offer that Gina had made for jewelry, trips, or a shopping spree. Knowing that Grace had amazing tastes, she was disappointed when her lover just wanted her and nothing more. But now, she had a personal gift that would be a surprise that she wouldn't want to say no.

Finally, Robyn and Julia came into the room to start putting Teri to bed, and Jenn was able to spend a few minutes holding her hand and whispering to her. Robyn came over and suggested not to worry. They would be there to monitor her, and Teri would sleep through the night.

Jenn leaned over and whispered, “Baby, it’s time for you to sleep. I’m going back to our place for the night, but I’ll be here tomorrow morning.” She kissed her sleeping girlfriend and took an Uber back to their apartment.

After showering, she curled up in bed and fell asleep, knowing that she’d be over at the hospital when they opened for visitors at ten.

Tuesday morning, Gina saw a large two-toned SUV sitting outside on Fifth Avenue. She was pleased to see a cute young woman holding the door for her.

The woman smiled and looked her in the eyes. “Gina DeNardo?”

Gina looked over the pretty thing in her long-sleeved tee and yoga pants. She almost laughed out loud because she was wearing the same comfy clothes. “That’s me.”

“I’m Tanisha, and I'm ready to drive you down to Philly. Before we start, would you like anything? I’ve got snacks and waters in the back. We even have a chiller, too. And we can stop and get you whatever you want.”

Gina had grabbed a bagel after her morning run and now wanted something sweet. “Uh, any ice cream?”

Tanisha grinned. “We’ve got frozen Snickers, Milky Ways, and Heath Bars. Just watch biting down too hard. I’m not a dentist.”

Gina laughed out loud. “That sounds great. And Tanisha, where are you when you’re not driving this machine?”

“I’m in school, studying law in Philly at Kline.”

Gina knew that Kline was big time. If she attended Drexel, Tanisha must have been at the top of her college class. “Does that mean you drove up from Philly this morning?”

“That’s right. Our service finds it easier to come and get you rather than outsourcing our business to a New York firm. Quality goes a long way in our trade.”

Gina smiled. “You sound like you own the company.”

“Well, yes, it’s a family thing. My mom and grandfather run the business. This has been my side job forever. And the Wildcats are important clients. We enjoy shuttling all of you around Allentown and Philly. And you’re my favorite drummer.”

Gina blushed at her statement. Her gaydar was pinging pretty hard as she climbed into the big vehicle. Looking around inside, Gina was impressed. The back of this SUV was a beautifully upholstered office with two recliners. She turned and looked at her driver. “This is pretty nice back here. What is it?”

Tanisha turned and smiled. “It’s a Maybach. Mercedes makes them. This one is the top of their line, and it’s all electric. I topped off the charge a few minutes before I picked you up. We have plenty of battery to get you back to Philly regardless of the traffic.”

“Very cool. I’ve never paid much attention to our transportation, but it is pretty cool to ride in an electric limo with a beautiful driver. Okay. Well, I’ll let you concentrate on driving us out of this traffic. I have to call my dad.”

Tanisha looked back at her before she started to maneuver through Manhattan traffic. “Please put in a good word for me. I’m looking for an internship, and your dad’s law firm is the best in Allentown.”

“Sure, I’d be happy to talk to my pop.” She grinned and wagged her finger. “But then you’ll owe me.”

Gina watched the young woman stare into the rear-view mirror. Tanisha grinned. “Owe you, huh? Uh, you know you’ve got a reputation.”

Gina laughed. “Me, a reputation? Wait, do you keep a file on everyone you drive?”

“Nope. Just the beautiful ones.”

Gina inhaled and shook her head. She thought, ‘I love my life, I love my life.’ Picking up her phone, she called her dad.

“Dinardo, Hopkins, and Ryan. How can I help you?”

“Hi, Judy. It’s Gina. Could you have my dad call me when he’s not busy?”

“Gina, he just got off the phone. Let me connect you.”

A minute later, she heard his warm voice. “Hey, baby. How’s my favorite rock star?”

“Life is good, Daddy. I’m heading down to the hospital to see Teri. What’s up? Richard told me to give you a call.”

“Yep. I asked him to let you know that the lawyer in me needed to touch base. Richard wanted me to share the news about the check William Wiggins just wired us. It’s from the royalties from all the streaming services. Evidently, they send them out quarterly.”

“Oh. I didn’t even know that streaming services paid us royalties. Wow!”

“Sure. They pay the record company every time your songs get played. And all the services have been playing your hits all summer. Every time someone chooses to hear a Wildcat song, you get paid. And all those pennies add up. After Warner’s takes their cut, and Richard gets his share, you guys are splitting a hundred thousand dollars. That’s twenty grand per Cat.”

Gina thought about the painting she’d ordered from the gallery and wondered if that money would cover it. “That’s unexpected. I was going to call you to draw money from my account. I’m having Grace’s favorite artist make a painting of the view from her apartment to hang in her office. However, I’m not sure if I’ll need it. This money should cover it.”

She heard her dad chuckle. “That’s a sweet present for Grace. I’m sure she’s going to love it. My little girl is such a softy.”

“Love does that to you.” Gina looked up and realized that her driver could hear every word.

“Well, baby. I’m going to get back to work. Not all of us get a month’s vacation from their summer tour.”

“That’s true, but in our defense, we hit it hard. Twenty-four-seven for three months is a grind. It sounds like a piece of cake ‘cause we only perform for three hours a night. But you know what it really takes to keep the party going.”

“Well, Richard told me that you’re going international in the Spring. If you’re playing Italy, your mom and I will fly over to hear you.”

“Of course, we’ll book Rome just for you guys. But between now and then, we’ll be rehearsing, and maybe Zoe and Teri will have new material for us to play and record. Who knows? Right now, the two of them are preoccupied. Oh, yeah. One more thing. Do you ever have law school interns?”

“Sure. We always have three or four. You have someone?”

“I might.”

“Just have them send me a resume and text me her name so I can look her up.”

“Okay. Sounds great. But how did you know that it was a she?”

She heard her dad laugh. “I love you, sweetheart.”

“Love you too, dad.”

After she hung up, she closed her eyes and thought about how lucky she was to have a family who embraced her. When she opened her eyes, they were just going over the Ben Franklin Bridge into Philly. Gina looked up at Tanisha and smiled. “Hey.”

“Hey, back. I’ve been having fantasies about the favor I’m going to owe you.”

Gina grinned. “You do know I have a true love.”

Tanisha hummed. “Oh, I know. And that’s what’s going to make it so special.”

Gina just sat there and smiled.

“Uh, Ms Dinardo?”

“Tanisha, Gina is just fine.”

“Thank you for talking to your father, and well, can I ask a question?”

Gina nodded. “Of course.”

“Uh, what was it like when you came out?”

Gina grew quiet.“I was lucky to have the best older sister in the world. She was the one to give me the confidence to be myself.”

She paused and then began her story. “Growing up, I’d struggled with my sexual identity. Initially, I concealed my desires and thoughts, but one day, my older sister found me lying on the bed, sobbing into the pillow. I admitted how lonely I'd become, afraid to move forward and express my feelings of love for another girl that I really liked.”

Gina still remembered what Izzy had told her. “My sister gave me the words of wisdom that I still live by. She said, Baby, you’re not a freak. Stop worrying about your thoughts and embrace them. Loving another woman is the most natural thing you can do. Seriously, who is more beautiful, smells better, and is more delightful in bed than another girl? A woman knows how to push your buttons both sexually and in your mind. Loving women is a natural thing. Take it from me. My whole life revolves around women and beauty. Some day, I’m going to open up a salon and cater to women who love to be pampered.”

“I remember smiling and looking at her. Even though she’d always dated guys, she was the best, loving sister. I dried my tears because she believed her. Then I asked, a salon? Have you already thought of a name for this perfect haven?”

“I still remember hearing Izzy laugh. Of course I have, she said. It’s going to be called Isabella’s. And it will be famous throughout the whole Allentown area.”