64.1 -64.2
Kris had never seen a house so beautiful up close. She’d been watching it attentively from her seat in Julianne’s limousine. The closer they got to it, the more breathtaking it became. Kris felt a lump in her throat at the realization that this was her destination. It seemed too beautiful to be real. She turned to look at Julianne, to share her thoughts, but the actress was in the middle of what sounded like an important conversation.

Not wanting to intrude, Kris leaned her head against the window and lost herself in the images flying past. It felt almost like a fairy tale, being in Julianne’s world. Manhattan seemed so far away at that instant. It was as though she had stepped into an alternate reality, and this was now her life. She lifted her head, glancing at Julianne for a moment before returning her gaze to the outside world.

Except, it wasn’t her life. She was fully aware of that. This was just a snippet, a peek at something outside of her sphere of existence. She was merely getting to taste a free sample of success.

“Ah, home sweet hell,” Julianne laughed, leaning against Kris to look out of the window.

Kris loved the heat of Julianne’s body. She wanted to lean into it, to feel more. Why did simple contact feel so complicated? “It’s beautiful,” Kris said, trying to concentrate on the scenery.

“It’s pompous and pretentious,” Julianne said. “They always have the lights on in all of the windows so it looks more majestic. My mother’s idea.”

“Sounds like a large electric bill,” Kris said, though she couldn’t even imagine how large.

Julianne sat back, reclaiming her previous spot near the opposite window. “I don’t think my mother has ever seen a bill.”

Kris noted that Julianne’s tone was more matter-of-fact than judgmental. She wondered if Julianne herself had ever looked at a bill. It didn’t seem likely, given Julianne’s smooth transition from spoiled rich kid to super stardom. Luck seemed unevenly distributed among the masses.

The limousine rolled to a stop, and the chauffeur stepped out to open the door for them. Once outside, Kris stared up at the mansion with an uneasy feeling. She had no idea what to expect. But she wanted to meet Julianne’s family; she wanted to see, first hand, what Julianne grew up with.

“Ready?” Julianne asked.

Kris glanced up at her and offered a brief smile. “I don’t know. Are you?”

“Never,” Julianne replied. She glanced up at the house and sighed. “Let’s get this over with. Whatever you do, don’t look directly into my mother’s eyes.”

Kris smiled, relaxing slightly, and followed Julianne toward the front door. Before they had a chance to knock, a woman who looked like an exact replica of Julianne, if quite a bit older and with short hair, opened the door.

“Opening doors now, mother?” Julianne commented. “That’s new. I didn’t think you knew how.”

Julianne’s mother didn’t reply, her gaze on Kris.

Kris shifted uncomfortably under the woman’s intense gaze, but didn’t look away. She didn’t want to appear intimidated.

After a few seconds, blue eyes shifted to Julianne’s. “Are you going to introduce your guest, Julianne? Where are your manners?”

“Mother, this is Kris. Kris, this is my mother.”

“You may call me Susan,” her mother said, turning her back to them and starting into the house. “Your father is caught in a meeting. He won’t be joining us.”

Kris glanced at Julianne with a raised eyebrow.

“After you,” Julianne indicated with a wave of her arm. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

Kris smiled and stepped into the grand foyer. If the woman wanted attitude, Kris would show her attitude.

*****


Julianne listened to the clattering of silverware against the bottom of plates. The noise, while rhythmic, only served to grate at her nerves. She wanted to take Kris’ hand and lead her friend out of there. It was too quiet. The lack of conversation bothered her.

Finally, it was Julianne’s sister that broke the silence. “So what happened with Adrian?”

Susan glanced up from her plate, seemingly torn between telling Jan to be quiet, and genuinely curious to know Julianne’s response. She opted for curiosity. “Yes, Julianne, what did happen?”

Julianne could feel all eyes watching her; her mother’s, Jan’s, and even Kris’. She didn’t want to lie in front of Kris. She didn’t want to pretend anymore, or formulate any more stories to conceal the truth. But what would admitting the truth accomplish? “I’m not in love with him,” she finally answered.

“So who are you in love with?” Jan asked.

The question made Julianne freeze. She didn’t know how to answer it without lying. “What makes you think I’m in love with anyone?” she countered, trying to stall, hoping the question would dissipate into nothingness.

Jan shrugged. “Are you?”

“Guess you’ll have to tune into Entertainment Tonight just like everyone else,” Julianne replied.

Resigned, Jan turned to Kris. “Mom was sure you were Julianne’s new boyfriend,” she informed. “She had the staff cleaning the entire house in preparation of your arrival.”

Susan cleared her throat, clearly embarrassed by her daughter’s revelation. “So, Kris, are you in the film with Julianne?”

Kris appeared momentarily thrown by the sudden attention. “No, I’m an art student at NYU. My roommate is in the film, though.”

“Kris is a very talented artist,” Julianne supplied, jumping at any chance to boast about her talents.

“Do you have a boyfriend?” Jan asked curiously.

“Is that all you ever think about?” Julianne asked, annoyed by her sister’s questions.

Jan ignored Julianne and focused her attention on awaiting Kris’ response.

Kris shook her head slightly and said, “I did. But we broke up.”

“Why?” Jan asked.

“None of your business!” Julianne snapped.

“Julianne,” Susan chastised.

Jan looked annoyed. “I’m free to have a conversation with your friend if I want to. You don’t own her. She’s perfectly welcome to tell me to shut up whenever I cross the line.”

Frustrated and more than a little angry, Julianne tightened her jaw, but didn’t say anything. Jan was right, as much as she hated to admit it. Kris was fully capable of taking care of herself.

“I wasn’t in love with him,” Kris answered, if only to put a stop to the quarreling.

“Seems to be going around,” Jan commented, glancing at Julianne.

“It can’t be easy,” Susan interjected, “being an artist in New York.”

Kris shrugged. “It’s not really easy being anyone anywhere.”

Susan stared at Kris for a moment. “Well, I suppose you would know about struggle. I have always admired your people.”

Julianne snapped her head to look at her mother. She stared, disbelieving.

Kris calmly took a sip of her drink and looked at Susan. “What people would that be?”

Susan waved her hand in a circular gesture as if to indicate that by ‘people’ she meant one giant entity: the all-encompassing minority. “Hispanics. I watch it on TV all of the time. Those poor people getting rescued from their rafts.” She shook her head and took a sip of wine. “Frankly, I can’t imagine how they manage it. Did your family arrive here by such means?”

Julianne blinked.

Jan stifled a laugh.

Kris smiled. “Yes, of course. Us Puerto Ricans escape the island by raft all of the time.”

“So it’s a common thing in your culture then?” Susan wondered. “Amazing what people get used to.”

Julianne wanted, desperately, to bang her head against the table, and pray that this was all a bad dream. She had known that her mother was evil, but ignorant and stupid, too? “They’re a commonwealth, mother. I’m certain airplanes are a tad more convenient.”

Susan absorbed this information from behind her glass of wine. Her blue eyes darted to Kris and narrowed slightly. It was clear to Julianne that her mother did not appreciate being corrected by her daughter. Especially when it resulted in personal embarrassment. It was also clear to Julianne, that Kris’ sarcasm was equally unappreciated. “Seems unfair, then, that affirmative action would still include you as a participant, no? Puerto Ricans must feel very high and mighty, having the best of both worlds.”

The humor left Kris’ eyes. “What seems unfair, ma’am, is that your idiocy is allowed to take residence in such a beautiful home as this. I’m certain that the size of this mansion is in compensation for the size of your brain.”

Jan burst out laughing but hid it with a large, dramatic cough.

Susan’s mouth hung open slightly, then shut quickly. Unable to reply, she took another sip of wine.

Julianne cleared her throat, mostly to keep from laughing herself. Kris had told off her mother. Kris. She was nearly giddy with amusement, and slightly frozen from the shock. “Well, thanks for dinner, mother,” she said, rising. “Kris and I have some matters to attend to.”

Kris rose as well, her gaze cast downward, as if she were just now realizing that she, Kris Milano, had just called Julianne Franqui’s mother, stupid.

“Julianne,” Susan said sternly, yet with an eerie calm. “Could I speak to you privately?”

It wasn’t really a question. Julianne glanced quickly at Kris. “I’ll meet you in the limo.”

Thankful that she got to wait outside, Kris nodded, and started toward the front door. She turned around, only, to offer a polite nod to Jan.

Julianne watched Kris leave and then, resigned, followed her mother into the next room.

“I don’t want you anywhere near that … that…” Her mother’s voice trailed off, anger replacing her cool demeanor.

“Her name is Kris,” Julianne said, starting to get angry herself. She couldn’t believe the things her mother had said. “Rafts, mother?”

“She should feel thankful she didn’t need one,” Susan retorted. “Those people are never appreciative. We allow them in our country and all they do is complain.”

“Do you hear yourself?” Julianne demanded.

Susan shrugged her slender shoulders. “I donate to their charities. I know what goes on. And that … whatever she is, is never allowed in this house again.”

“Like she’d want to come back!” Julianne yelled.

“Julianne, I’m not going to say this again. I don’t want you associating with such low-class filth!”

Julianne had never felt so angry in her life. The nerve of her mother! How dare she! “You no longer get to dictate my life.”

“I’m not speaking about your life, Julianne,” Susan said, her voice returning to calm, comforted by the knowledge that she’d make Julianne lose her cool. “Don’t get dramatic.”

“Kris is my life,” Julianne answered, not even shocked by the easy way the words slipped from her lips.

Susan didn’t even blink. “Stop speaking nonsense.”

“It’s not nonsense, mother,” Julianne replied, her anger fueling her courage. “It’s the truth. I’m gay. A queer, dyke, whatever you wish to call me. And I’m in love with Kris. Deny it, accept it, I don’t give a damn.” With that, she turned on her heels and headed toward the nearest exit.