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Holly took a deep breath, steeling herself for the conversation that had to be had. “About last night, Deborah…”
Deborah’s expression changed slightly as she noticed the seriousness in the young girl’s eyes. “Yeah? What about it, Holly? You know… I had no clue who you were,” she admitted, her voice low. “I mean, you’re Esme’s kid. I knew she had a kid… but… Jesus. Why didn’t you say something? I feel, ethically disastrous.”
“Listen… I just thought you were a random guest. One of many Deborahs! Mom and Nora hob-knob around with half the city.”
Deborah looked toward her feet, her cheeks flushing as a look of understanding dawned on Holly’s face, followed by a playful smirk. “But…” she continued with a hint of amusement in her voice, “You’re hot as hell. And I knew I just had to sweep you off your feet. I wouldn’t have… come anywhere near you if I’d known. But you’re kind of irresistible. And… it was so worth it, right?”
Deborah turned an even brighter shade ofpink, but Holly’s teasing tone had undoubtedly eased the tension somewhat. “It’s not funny, Holly. I guess we both should have known better.”
Holly frowned slightly as she continued to gaze at Deborah. “Look, Deborah. It was just a moment. It was a crazy, unexpected moment at an amazing wedding. These things happen. We’re both adults, and we can deal,” she explained, feeling crushed by the realization that Deborah was clearly out-and-out rejecting her.
Deborah nodded and smiled. “But we have to make sure Esme doesn’t find out. I don’t think she’d be too happy about it. I don’t want to hurt her.”
“That’s an understatement. I promise I won’t say anything,” Holly nodded, seeing the look of relief on Deborah’s face.
They stood for a moment, neither of them saying a word. It was as if the weight of their shared secret hung between them. Holly felt a fleeting admiration for Deborah and her apparent desire to protect her mother.
“Thanks,” Deborah finally said, her voice sincere. “For being understanding.”
Holly flashed her a wide grin. “Hey, life’s too short for regrets, don’t you think?”
As they returned to getting the Indigo Lounge back to its pre-wedding glory, Holly found herself observing Deborah. Did her mom’s friend understand what she’d meant? That life was too short to dwell on what-ifs and maybes? As the afternoon continued to unfold, Holly couldn’t shake the feeling that meeting this woman in her mom’s bar had given her a new energy… something that promised both excitement and uncertainty. And something she’d failed to find in Australia.
Holly’s return to Los Angeles had so far been a whirlwind of catching up with old friends. After spending five adventurous years surfing the waves of Australia’s coastlines and living off the regular amounts of money her mom wired over to her bank account, she had felt the need to return home, if only temporarily. She needed to reconnect with her roots and those who mattered most. Mainly her mother and new stepmom. Beach life was fantastic up to a point, with stunning landscapes, a laid-back atmosphere, and a string of one-night stands. When she’d first arrived, she’d felt that surfing wasn’t just a sport but a way of life that embraced adventure, freedom, and the thrill of riding the waves. However, as time passed, shefound it to be a shallow existence and desperately craved a deeper meaning.
Holly felt both familiar and foreign at her mother’s bar, with its sophisticated ambiance and vibrant crowd. As the clean-up came to an end, she exchanged a few pleasantries with some of the regulars she remembered from before her departure and introduced herself to the new faces who had become fixtures in her absence.
“Right! I think that’s everything! We’ll be opening in around fifteen minutes! It’s business as usual at the Indigo!” shouted Esme.
“Seriously, babe? You don’t want to take a night off?” said Nora in mock surprise.
“We redecorated! Inside and out! I want people in here telling me how great everything looks!”
“You did a great job, Mom,” exclaimed Holly.
“Thanks, Hols. I couldn’t have done it without the wife.”
“I’ve got the cash; you’ve got the amazing taste, sweetie,” laughed Nora. “You know what looks good and what the clients want. Investing in you… in this place… was a no-brainer.”
Esme and her friends sat down to enjoy some well-earned cocktails. Holly had a meet-up with some friends downtown but couldn’t help butnotice Deborah’s lingering glances in her direction. There was a flicker of something in Deborah’s eyes—a mix of curiosity and apprehension that made Holly want to stay exactly where she was. She couldn’t stop picturing their encounter on the rooftop and the rush of passion and desire that had consumed them both, albeit briefly.
“Hey, Holly! Come join us! You’ve got to see your mom’s new cocktail menu!” Mia shouted, waving her over to her mother’s table near the bar.
Holly grinned and made her way through the already crowded room, her mind trying to process this need to get back into Deborah’s orbit. Mia stood up and squeezed her in a warm hug, and the conversation around the table quickly turned to the young girl and her return to L.A.
“So, Hollybolly! Tell us about Australia,” cried Mia’s girlfriend, Harper. “How did the surfer’s life treat you? I bet they don’t mix drinks like this Delevingne Daquiri down there, huh?”
“Funnily enough, I didn’t find that many bars where they name every drink and every dish after some famous or powerful lesbo. That’s definitely still the Indigo’s USP.”
Holly threw her head back and laughed, her eyes sparkling. “But despite the lack of… wait… whatdo we got here on this menu? Right! Okay, so I didn’t drink any Foster Fizzes… or… Nixon Negronis… Jodie and Cynthia, right? That’s so funny! But yeah… it was just incredible. The freedom of being out on the water daily, riding the waves... I don’t know if I’ve got the words to describe it.”
“I can only imagine,” Mia said, her admiration evident. “I hope I get to tour out there someday. You always had that adventurous spirit, didn’t you? I’ve always loved that about you, kid.”
Holly giggled, grateful for the chance to share her experiences with her Indigo Lounge family. But beneath the surface, her thoughts kept circling back to Deborah. She couldn’t help but wonder if her mom’s friend had maybe told some of the others about their encounter and that lurking behind all this politeness and questions about her life in Australia, everyone knew the truth.
No, she said she didn’t want to hurt Mom.
Later in the evening, as the music shifted to a mellower tempo, Holly felt the urge to head outside to see the glittering lights of Los Angeles. The view was breathtaking and such a stark contrast to the bare ruggedness of Australia’s coastlines that she’d become so used to.
