Free One Degree of Separation by Karin Kallmaker Page B

will.”

    Liddy laughed. “Okay, we’d be more than even. I’m not in the market. And I don’t want to be in the market.”
    “Gotcha. Likewise.” Marian arched an eyebrow. For the first time her hazel eyes held a smile. “The universe is twisted.” Liddy watched her walk toward the library entrance, wishing she’d had a moment to realize that if Marian wasn’t interested in dating maybe they could, well, just be friendly. She had heard it was possible for two lesbians to hang out and not actually be dating.
    Well, she reasoned, it was inevitable that she’d be in the library again soon. She abruptly realized that the prospect of another trip to the Iowa City Public Library wasn’t the least bit unpleasant.

5
    “Marian!”
    Marian returned Jersey’s wave and made her way past the grow-ing line to drop off her backpack. Friday evenings at the Java House was a popular tradition for more than just dykes.
    “Is it really true?” Jersey’s electrician’s belt was next to the lounge sofa, which meant she’d walked over from the freelance work she occasionally did in a couple of the restaurants. “The Rosings are moving to Hawaii?”
    Marian nodded, trying to hide the surge of tears that welled up behind her dry, itching eyes. More salt, right, that would help.
    “Cool, you snagged the lounge area for us. It’s easier on my butt than the chairs. Where’s Terry?”
    “She had an emergency at the clinic. A shepherd swallowed a Barbie head, apparently, and it hasn’t made it out the other end.”
    “Poor pooch.”
    “That’s so gross.” Sandy settled into the easy chair next to Jersey and eased out of her loafers. “I have been on my feet all day. Last time I take someone else’s classes on Fridays.”
    “It’s the way all creatures work.” Mary Jane, who had walked over from the library with Marian, dropped her satchel onto the chair across from Sandy. “What goes in must come out. Sit, Marian. I owe you from last week. Iced latte or mocha?”
    “Swiss Chocolate Milk with a Costa Rican espresso shot. I’m going for the hard stuff.”
    “You’ll be up all night,” Sandy predicted. She worried a thread along the hem of her crisp T-shirt. Marian thought irrelevantly that Sandy never looked anything but cool and comfortable. She tried not to resent it.
    “Caffeine, near as I can tell, doesn’t keep me awake, but it sure makes me pee.” Marian shrugged.
    “Thanks for sharing, Marian.” Mary Jane headed for the line.
    Sandy dug a magazine out of her book bag. “Check this out, this month’s Cosmo . A student left it. ‘The Five Things That Turn Your Man Off.’ I saw that and had to bring it. It’s a scream.” Marian idly picked up the magazine, though heterosexual sex tips were as interesting to her as the science of pimples. Actually, since she had pimples, she was more interested in them. Maybe there was an article about hormones and skin eruptions.
    “Heya, everybody!” Wen hooked the chair next to Marian.
    “Patty’ll be here in a minute. She went over to Carrie’s to get some more symphytum. Thank you, whoever got us these seats.”
    “Symphytum for your knee?” Marian couldn’t remember what that herb was good for.
    “Yeah, it’s feeling lousy. I’m going to end up in a wheelchair, I think.” With the nonchalance of long practice, Marian and Jersey helped Wen wedge pillows behind her back and under her knee.
    Severe arthritis had ended Wen’s field hockey days in her early thirties, and had gradually restricted her mobility over the last five years.
    “Thanks, guys.”
    Sandy took Wen’s proffered billfold. “The usual?”
    “Have you heard about Hemma and Amy?” Jersey licked her stir stick.
    “Yeah ... two decaf Classic Whites. Thank you.” Wen watched Sandy join Mary Jane at the end of the line before turning to Jersey.
    “No, what?”
    “Hawaii,” Jersey said. “Hemma got a tenured professorship.”
    “Holy cow.” Wen stared at Jersey in disbelief.