When We Touch

“Hello?” I call, and Donna White sticks her head around the corner.

“Oh, hey, Emberly. I’m just finishing this inventory.”

I go to where she’s sitting on a high stool holding a clipboard and a box of ballpoint pens. “Where’s Miss Betty?”

“She went down to make a deposit and mail some stuff.”

Hesitating, I can still hear the voices out front. “Mind if I hang out and wait for her?”

“Sure!” She leans back and returns to counting. “You have her cake?”

“Yeah.” I walk around to the other side of the room. “Does she have a refrigerator or anything I can store it in? It’s kind of stuffy. I don’t want the icing to melt.”

Donna hops down and motions for me to follow. “She has a spot cleared in the back of the refrigerated section you can use.”

“So long as André doesn’t see it.”

We pause in front of the silver metal door. “Can I see it?” she whispers.

“Sure.” I lift the lid, and inside is the dark-chocolate confection. “I tempered the chocolate to make it shine.”

“It’s so big!” Donna’s face goes from bright red to pale in a matter of seconds.

“Betty said to make a cake for twenty people.”

She blinks at it several more seconds then she bursts into giggles. “Oh!” She sniffs, wiping her eyes. “I’m sorry. I just… It’s so shiny!” She immediately starts giggling again. “It looks so real!”

“It’s what Betty wanted,” I say, trying to defend myself. “And it’s a paycheck for me.”

“Oh, Ember…” She laughs a little more, but then her mood starts to change. “Oh, Ember,” she says again, walking to her stool and slumping her shoulders.

Now I’m really confused. “Are you crying?”

“I’m sorry,” she repeats, wiping her eyes quickly. “I’m just feeling a little emotional these days.”

Rubbing her arm, I smile. “Well, that’s normal. You’re about to get married. It’s a big transition.”

Nodding quickly, she wipes her face with a tissue. “Right. I know you’re right.”

We’re quiet a moment, and I leave my NC17 dessert in Betty’s fridge. I don’t hear voices out front anymore, but I’m not sure I should leave Donna alone.

“Is there anything else on your mind?”

She looks up at me, her watery eyes round. “Actually…” Her cheeks go pink again. “Well, I mean, you’ve had sex before, right?”

“Uh, yeah… I have a daughter.”

“Right.” She nods fast, picking up the clipboard. “And here you are. Just fine!”

The uncertain reassurance in her voice almost makes me laugh. “That’s right. I am fine. Is that what you’re worried about? Giving birth?”

Hopping off the stool, she runs to the door and locks it. Then she comes back and clasps both my hands in hers.

“Ember! I’m so scared! I’ve waited and waited. I told Liam I was waiting to have sex until we were married because that’s what God wants us to do, but the truth is I don’t want to have sex with him at all!”

Her voice rises to a shriek, and I hold my hand just in front of her lips. “Shh! André will come back here.”

She’s breathing fast, but the shrieking stops. Chewing my lip, I’m not exactly sure if Donna is trying to tell me she’s a lesbian or if she’s really just that scared of penises.