Josie didn't respond to Lizzie's message at first. She paced the house a bit nervous and then she picked up her phone and called Penelope. Penelope answered right away.

''Jo?''

''They know!"

''What ? Who?''

''My family… Mom and dad saw me kissing Petra in the street.''

That made it clearer to Penelope and she felt very unpleasant pang in her stomach.

''Did they call?''

''Lizzie texted…and called million times.''

''And what did you say?''

''Nothing, I am ignoring them.''

''You should call Lizzie and talk to her… It would be easier…it's not news to her… She knew about us…so her seeing you with a girl…''

''But she has no idea I kept seeing girls. She thinks it was just….''

''A phase Jojo?''

''YES!''

Penelope's bitterness rose with every moment more.

''Call her and talk to her before tomorrow. Maybe she would be your support if you tell her that it's not a phase and come out to her.''

''I can't.''

''Yes, you can Jojo. You have to, for your own good. Hiding and pretending could only cause more trouble. I just want you to be comfortable in your own skin and that's not going to happen as long as you live in some sort of lie.''

Josie took a deep breath and let it out… She needed to calm down before she even dares to call Lizzie.

''I know. You are right…''

''I have to go now Jojo… I have a crazy day ahead of me tomorrow. I'll call you for our trip.''

''You still want to go?''

''Yes… I do want to go… Why?''

''I don't know… I was sure you would need some space to… I don't know… Just to be alone and with your thoughts and impressions of the situation.''

''Jojo, he is gone for eight months now…And I accepted his death… I still miss him and have feelings about him and his passing…. But I am sure about this with you too…''

''Ok… I will think of you tomorrow.''

''No, think of yourself. You need all the focus on yourself and what comes next. We both know it would not be walk in the park tomorrow during your family gathering. And we both know that some very painful truths will come out…So, that is why I need you to focus on yourself and what you really want your family to know. It's not just about kissing a girl Jojo… It's about hiding huge part of yourself out of fear what your family might think and because Lizzie assured you that they would never accept having a gay daughter.''

''You are right… Go to sleep and I'll call you after I am done with my parents.''

''Ok… Do you want me to pick you up?''

''Yes, but I will go by my car, so there is no point. I will come to your place after I am done with my parents and then we can go where you wanted us to.''

''Ok. See you tomorrow.''

''Penny…''

''Yes?''

''I love you.''

Penelope smiled.

''I love you too Jojo…''

''See you tomorrow…and good luck to you too.''

Josie just sat in silence for a moment and played back Penelope's words. She poured herself a shot and picked her phone up. After some liquid courage, she was ready to take charge of her life. She dialed Lizzie's number and her sister answered.

''About time Josie… Now, can you tell me what the fuck is happening?! What mom and dad saw in the street?! Please tell me it was not you.''

''It was me… I was on a date with a very interesting woman.''

''What? What about Peter?''

''We broke up.''

''What? When?''

''Few days ago…''

''Who is that woman?''

''Her name is Petra and I met her when I went out with my friends from work.''

''And what about Satan? I was sure she would try to weasel herself in your life once you two saw each other again…''

''We are not together Lizzie.''

''I see that now…''

There was uncomfortable moment of silence.

''I can't believe we are back to this Jo! I was sure that phase ended in high school when Satan left.''

''No, it didn't… I kept seeing women…''

''WOMEN? As in multiple?''

''Yes, Lizzie… During my college years I dated some women.''

''And you never told me?''

''Do you blame me? Don't you hear yourself?''

''Why can't you date a man and be normal?''

''I am normal Lizzie, I just happen to be gay.''

''GAY?! Wow! How did that happen?''

''I slept with Penelope all those years ago and the rest is history.''

''But you dated men?''

''Just to please mom, dad and you. I was not ready to come out.''

''And what changed?''

''I realized that Peter wanted to propose and I was pretty sure he deserves more than a woman who tolerates him. He deserves to be loved.''

''What about us Josie? Do you think about anyone else but yourself? How will this affect all of us? Mom and dad are going to flip.''

''Lizzie, I've been thinking of everyone else and spent years being miserable… Now it's my turn to think about myself and what I want.''

''You can't be serious?! You are going to keep seeing that woman?''

''Yes, I am… And after her I will be seeing someone else and maybe even Penelope in the end… ''

''I knew it's about her.''

''No, it's about me… I wasted years on relationships that were pointless… hoping I would find her again and fix things.''

''And how is that going?''

''Not as I expected. Penelope needs time and now it's my turn to wait for her.''

''And date other people.''

''She is ok with it.''

''Of course she is… She always loved to slut things up.''

''No, she didn't… Those stories about her were pure lies and gossip. I asked.''

''Of course she would lie.''

''Why would she? It happened lifetime ago Lizzie… Her answer wouldn't change things…. We are not together anymore…It has been years since we were together. At the time things were happening, telling lies would make sense, not decade later. Now any answer wouldn't change a thing. A lot has happened in our lives and we can be honest and put all the vanity and anger aside… And believe me, there are both anger and vanity within both of us, but we choose to be honest and some things were finally explained and resolved.''

''Fine! Whatever!''

Josie didn't say anything to that. Lizzie changed the subject right away.

''So, you are still coming to dinner tomorrow?''

''Yes, I am… I am going to show up at their house and I will answer all the questions they might have.''

''I can assure you it's not going to be walk in the park. You have so much explaining to do.''

''I know Lizzie.''

''No, you don't… This will affect our family.''

''Of course it will… It's a big secret I have to share with them and explain why they had no idea about who I really am and why I spent most of my life hiding… ''

''This will be embarrassment for mom and dad.''

''Lizzie, no one really cares…''

''Of course they care. Now I can't introduce you to anyone at my husband's dinners and everyone will know that I have a gay sister.''

''Is that really bothering you that much?''

''YES! It's wrong Josie…''

''Why is it wrong?''

''Because it simply is…It's unnatural…and I will have to cut ties with you. My husband's family is not really that opened toward…modern things.''

Josie just rolled her eyes at that comment.

''I am sorry that your very conservative in-laws would have issue with my sexuality.''

''You know that Robert might be interested in running for office. What do you think it would look like if anyone learns about his sister in law being…gay?''

''Lizzie, can we talk about this tomorrow? I am a bit tired.''

''Fine, I'll see you tomorrow. Mom said five o clock.''

''I'll be there.''

Josie ended the conversation with Lizzie and went to bed. She couldn't sleep and all she wanted was to call Penelope and somehow get her to come or let her come to her. She really needed her, but she was also aware that Penelope had difficult day ahead of her. They were finally putting Oliver's remains into the family crypt and she had to mentally prepare herself for the day with the family that hated her and saw her as a gold digger. She felt bad for both of them and personal hell ahead of them during this Sunday. She got out of the bed and packed her bag. Penelope promised her escape and she was now looking forward to it. She was sure that after confronting her family and telling her truth, she would need to escape to put herself together.

Penelope spent most of the night tossing and turning. Her mind was playing a movie of amazing moments she and Oliver shared together and somehow all the bad things they had in their relationship suddenly didn't feel that important anymore. She was aware of them, but she choose to remember good times and positive things about them. On some level, she loved him deeply and he loved her too. It took her some time to accept they would never be ''normal'' and that she actually didn't want that from him. She would never deny that Oliver Jordan made her the woman she is today. Being his wife and partner in life made her stronger, made her independent and made her sure she could survive anything. On many levels, she was grateful to him. He helped her become more than anyone believed she would. He helped her with school, with practice and helped her do what she deeply loved. He was proud of her and her achievements, even when he didn't sound like that. It was hard for him to accept that his wife is not dependent of him and she was in the marriage for other reasons than money. He got too used to people being close to him for his money and power that he often didn't really understand Penelope's love for him. She was sure that many people around them didn't understand their relationship either. She was young, beautiful and poor so in the eyes of many, she was a gold digger.

She got out of her bed and went to his bedroom. She didn't even turn the light on, she just took a seat on his bed and took his ring from the night stand. She put it on her finger, under her rings and for a moment she just looked at her hand where their rings were together. She felt like that was one of the last gestures she could have as a wife. She loved Josie. She was still in love with her…but Oliver was something different. Her feelings for him were still there and very real to her. Now, knowing there are some remains, solid evidence that he is dead, she felt like part of her was gone with him. She was alone again. This time her situation was different. She was not poor student anymore who had to work insane shifts to survive. Now she was alone in a golden cage surrounded by millions of dollars in art, real-estate, jewelry and clothes. Gold digger, black widow, Oliver's underage whore… and many more things she was called before in her life. At some moment she stopped caring about the labels people put on her. Only thing she made sure everyone knew was that she was of age when they met and that Oliver was not what many called him behind his back. To her, Oliver was partner, teacher and someone who loved her like she needed to be loved at that moment. He gave her the free love many dream about and she was grateful to him for everything he did and gave her. She got off his bed and went to his bathroom. She picked up his robe and got on the bed with it. She put it on the pillow beside her and nuzzled into it. She fell asleep like that at three in the morning after crying for most of the night. She had no idea what life would bring now, but she knew she would miss him like hell. Those eight months without any news were hard, but she felt like knowing he is dead was harder. During those months she had some hope, now all the hope was shattered.