“What do you mean? You’re going away at Christmas. You can’t go away by yourself at Christmas.” Trudy said in a voice that grew louder with each word.

Trudy gave Debs an inquiring look. A look that asked whether she knew anything about it. Debs shrugged her shoulders, as though to say, ‘I have no idea’. 

Debs asked, “What? Why? How?”

Trudy butted in, “You just can’t. Christmas is for friends and family. What about your Mum? She will be expecting you.”

Alison spoke, with a hint of emotion, as she tried to keep her voice matter of fact, “Mum knows I won’t be home.” 

“How did she take that?” Debs asked. 

“She was the one who told me I couldn’t go there this year. She had been invited to one of her gentlemen friends from the social club she goes to and had accepted the invitation.” 

“Oh." Trudy’s whole manner deflated.  

"That’s a bummer,” Debs replied. 

Alison gave a little shrug, as she said, “And as all of my friends are busy with their own lives, I thought I’d go on holiday.” 

“Sorry,” Trudy said as she squeezed her wife’s knee, “but we haven’t seen Debs’ family at Christmas, ever.” 

“I know,” Alison’s eyes showed that she was happy for them, as the smile that played across her face grew. “Just teasing.”

Debs looked lovingly into Trudy’s eyes. “They are so looking forward to me bringing my new wife home for Christmas.” 

Alison continued to smile at them. A smile that showed the years of mutual love and support they had given each other, through good times and bad. “I’m very glad you made an honest woman of her, Debs. Finally, after how many years?” 

Trudy took her wife’s hand and gave it a squeeze, saying, “Nine years. And I can’t work out why we didn’t do it sooner.” 

“Because I didn’t think my family knew about me, about us,” Debs replied, returning the smile. “Yes, they knew Trudy was a friend. But because until I met Trudy, I’d never been in a relationship with a woman, I didn't realise I was a lesbian. And how old am I? All those years of missing out, I just thought sex sucked," she grinned.

“You're forty-eight and a babe in arms compared to us.” Alison laughed, indicating Trudy and herself.

“And you’ve definitely made up for all those lost years.”

“Too much information,” Alison put her fingers in her ears and sang, “La, la, la.”

Debs laughed, gave Trudy a furtive glance before she resumed, “Then last year Mum only asked why I didn’t want to go to theirs for Christmas again. How can you be my age and not be out to your parents?” She shook her head, smiling, “I’m stuttering around. Trying to find the right words to tell them I’m a lesbian, and that I wanted to spend the holiday season with my beloved. When my Dad, bless him, said, ‘Debs. All we want for you is to be happy. And if being in a relationship with Trudy is making you happy then who are we to judge. We love you dearly. And we can see the love between you and her. Please ask her to join us next year.’ Bless him.” 

“And that’s what we’re doing,” Trudy replied, as she squeezed her wife’s knee. “Married and going to the in-laws for Christmas what more could a girl ask for?” 

Debs gave a small shake of her head, smiled and continued, “It seems that they knew I was a lesbian for years and had been waiting patiently for me to come out to them. That’s what gave me the courage to ask Trudy to marry me. Knowing that we had their support.” 

“I wish my Mum was as supportive. She still thinks it’s a phase I’m going through.” Alison laughed a hollow laugh. “A phase doesn’t usually last for almost forty years. She thinks I should be bringing home some handsome man from accounts.” Alison looked sad as she continued, “I’m glad I’m not going to my Mum’s for another Christmas by myself. Not three years on the trot. She already thinks that I’m a failure.” 

“You’re not a failure,” Debs jumped in. “Look around you. You got a lovely house, a sports car I would die for, and a good job.” 

“But no significant other,” Alison replied in a flat tone. 

“True,” Trudy responded, “But Viv wasn’t good for you. She was sucking all the life out of you.” 

“I know. I know. I can see it now. But I thought I loved her. And thought she loved me.” A look of pain flitted across her chiselled face, as a tear began to well at the corner of one of her blue eyes. She turned away blinking. 

Trudy got up and sat beside Alison. “Don’t you dare begin to feel sorry for her, for yourself. She was using you. She was a narcissistic abuser.” 

“Don’t start,” Alison warned, shaking her head, “I know what you’re going to say.” 

Trudy also shook her head, and said, as gently as she could, “She needed money and a place to live. You were the ideal candidate for her schemes. She reeled you in, hook, line and sinker. And you allowed it.” 

A sigh escaped from Alison’s lips, “I realise that now. But all through the relationship, she made me feel wanted, needed, loved. And not just in bed.” 

“Ignoring all the warning signs, Trudy continued, “She also stopped you seeing your friends. She was a control freak.” 

“She wasn’t. Not really,” Alison said defensively. 

A strangled gurgle escaped from Debs’ mouth. Alison had the grace to look sheepish as she replied, “Well perhaps a little.”

“Both of the other women raised their eyebrows as if to disagree. 

“Okay. I’ll admit it. She was a control freak.”

Trudy couldn’t keep her feelings in. Her voice became raised and agitated as she spoke through gritted teeth, “She hit you. I’ll never forgive her for that.” 

Defensively, she replied, “Once. She hit me once. And I deserved it.”