A gentle breeze blew by as Vivian stepped out of the limo and onto the pier. She wore a sundress and wedges, a more relaxed take on her sophisticated style. She looked behind her as her mother teetered along the uneven wooden boards since she refused to part with her stilettos.
"Captain," Vivian nodded as she boarded the yacht.
"Miss Vivian," He smiled with a tip of his cap. "The water is beautiful today. We should have a pretty smooth trip."
"Thank you." Vivian responded.
Vivian walked through the cabin and set her bag down on the couch. She walked through to the other side of the boat and looked out over the marina. Vivian closed her eyes for a moment while she soaked up the sun and let the breeze pass her by. It wasn't until she heard a camera shutter that she opened them again.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to startle you." Joan smirked, camera in hand. "But I don't get a lot of chances to take candid photos of you. You have an uncanny ability to find your lens."
"That's sweet," Vivian turned to look at her girlfriend, their fingers interlocking. "But I am going to need to approve that before you print it."
Joan chuckled. She had started to get used to Vivian's high maintenance tendencies, appreciated them even. They shared a quick kiss before separating again as their parents walked into the sitting area of the cabin. Karen, of course, made a beeline for the bar while Jack showed Lisa and Mark around. Vivian led Joan around the deck until they were out of view from the cabin.
"How's the foundation?" Vivian asked. "Were you able to reschedule your investor's meeting?"
"I was," Joan nodded with a smile. "And they loved it. We're hoping to have everything ready to start working by the fall."
"Oh my god, that's fantastic!" Vivian beamed as she threw her arms around Joan's neck. "I'm so proud of you."
Joan put her arms on Vivian's waist and pulled her close as they shared another kiss, this one more passionate than before. Vivian ran her hands through Joan's hair until they heard someone clear their throat.
"Sorry to interrupt," Captain apologized. "But we're about to set sail if you wouldn't mind going inside until we drop the anchor again."
"Of course, thank you." Joan nodded.
"And Captain?" Vivian called after him as he began to leave. He turned back around. "I trust that this will stay between us."
"Of course, Miss Vivian." Captain nodded. "You have my discretion."
"Thank you." Vivian nodded.
Joan and Vivian went back inside as the boat began sailing. Their parents each had a drink in their hands and were laughing about something. Joan and Vivian weren't interested in finding out.
"I'm gonna show Joan our room." Vivian announced. "Just use the intercom if you need us."
"Okay, you girls have fun." Lisa smiled.
Joan and Vivian walked down the hall to the sleeping quarters.
"Do your parents know about us?" Vivian asked as she closed the door behind them.
"I haven't told them anything," Joan shrugged. "My dad is oblivious but I do think my mom suspects. But she won't say anything."
"Good." Vivian nodded.
"Look, I know you're still working on telling them. But do you know maybe when that will be?" Joan asked as she sat on the bed. "Don't get me wrong, the sneaking around is super hot but... I wanna show you off."
Vivian could feel herself blushing.
"Is that so?" She asked, sitting next to Joan and taking her hand in hers.
"Yeah," Joan smirked. "I've seen the way everyone looks at you when you walk in a room. I want all those snooty society people to know that you're my girl."
"Sawyer and I are waiting until graduation to tell our parents together." Vivian explained. "It's just, like, one more month."
"You promise?" Joan raised an eyebrow.
"I promise." Vivian nodded. "In the meantime, I promise to make it worth your while."
Vivian kissed Joan again with no inhibitions. She had locked the door so there was no worry of anyone walking in on them. It was so rare that they were able to spend time together without Vivian needing to get home for curfew or Joan being called in to help with work; they both wanted to savor the time they had together on this trip. They lost themselves in each other and lost track of time in the process. Their cabin felt like they were on their own planet even if just for a few hours.
"Vivian, Joan," They heard Jack's voice over the intercom. "Dinner will be served in ten minutes."
Both women looked up at the speaker on the wall as they caught their breath and came back to earth. Vivian cleared her throat.
"Be there in a few," She responded, releasing the speaker button when she was through. She made her way back to the bed but paused as she passed by the mirror and saw a hickey beginning to form on her neck. "Jesus, Joan, are you trying to broadcast the fact that we were back here fooling around?"
"You weren't arguing when it was happening," Joan smirked, though her face fell when Vivian turned around with a cocked head and crossed arms. "Look, I'm sorry. But it's not that bad. Just cover it with some makeup and no one will notice."
"Trust me, my mother will notice." Vivian rolled her eyes as she reached for her makeup bag. "And I'm going to have to explain how I got this between leaving home and now."
"Maybe she'll just continue to see what she wants to see." Joan muttered as she brushed through her hair.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Vivian asked with narrowed eyes. "You said yourself that your parents are oblivious about us, too."
"I don't live with them and I talk to them maybe once a week." Joan explained. "You're, like, best friends with your parents and they don't even suspect? I mean your dad runs a gay bar, how does he not know? So either they already know, to some extent, or maybe they aren't paying as close attention as you think they are."
Joan didn't mean for the words to sound as harsh as they did. But they did and they hung in the air between Joan and Vivian for a moment before Vivian locked herself in the bathroom.
"Viv," Joan tapped on the door. "I didn't mean it like that."
"Just go," Vivian said quietly. "I'll be out in a minute."
Vivian did her best to cover the bruised skin on her neck and hoped her hair would cover the faint shadow that still showed behind her concealer. She touched up the rest of her face and checked her hair before making her way to the dinner table.
"There she is!" Karen smiled as she poured her evening martini, finishing the bottle she opened upon boarding the yacht.
Vivian smiled at her mother's warm greeting, even if it was prompted by her alcohol consumption. She took her seat at the table across from Joan, though they didn't speak. It was the first time they had a disagreement since they started seeing each other.
After dinner, Joan went to change clothes while Vivian declined dessert and coffee and opted to go on the deck to get some fresh air. And by fresh air she meant a cigarette. Vivian's chest felt heavy with worry as she wondered if Joan would get tired of waiting. She was tired, too, but she had made this pact with Sawyer. She was the one who proposed it, she couldn't back out. The heavy feeling in Vivian's chest got heavier and she lit another cigarette.
The glass doors slid open and Jack stepped out onto the deck.
"Mom's passed out." He announced as he closed the doors behind him. "The Lanes turned in early, too."
"I guess Joan did, too." Vivian added, flicking the ash off her cigarette.
They stood together for a moment and looked out at the early evening sky. The sun had just set, but it wasn't completely dark yet. The waves gently rocked the boat from side to side.
"Can I ask you something?" Jack asked, still looking out over the horizon.
"I guess, yeah." Vivian shrugged.
"Is there something you talked to Uncle Will about that you feel like you can't tell me?" Jack asked. His voice was calm and unaccusing. If anything he sounded worried and maybe even hurt.
Vivian didn't know how to answer. She should have known Will would say something to her parents at some point. Before Vivian could think of how she wanted to approach the conversation, Jack continued.
"Look, princess," He said, now turning to face her. "I know things have been crazy these last couple of months. The whole thing with Matthew wasn't supposed to happen, at least not for a while. But I just can't help but feel like since that happened something changed between us. I mean, we used to spend hours painting each other's nails and talking about what was going on."
Vivian knew she had been distant with her parents but didn't realize just how hard her dad was taking it. It killed her to know this secret she was keeping was taking such a toll on her relationship with him.
"I understand you want to just keep it all inside, you're like your mother that way." Jack nodded, turning back to face the water. "But if you do ever want to talk, I'm always eager to listen to you."
Vivian felt tears in her eyes and she dropped her cigarette in the water. She couldn't do it anymore. She thought she would be able to wait until graduation but she couldn't. She would find a way to make it up to Sawyer but she couldn't go back to Manhattan with this secret.
"In my defense Uncle Will found out on accident." Vivian began, answering Jack's original question. "I was seeing someone at the time who happened to be interning at his firm and he saw us kissing."
"So you were cheating on Sawyer?" Jack asked.
"Well, Sawyer and I were never exclusive." Vivian clarified. "But, that wasn't the issue."
"Then what was it?" Jack pressed on.
"I was kissing a girl." Vivian blurred out. Once she started talking she couldn't stop herself. She just kept talking to avoid hearing her father's response. "And I was talking to Uncle Will about how I didn't know how to tell you and mom that I'm a lesbian. Then I met Joan at Valentine's day and we've been seeing each other ever since. I know it shouldn't be a big deal but I just kept thinking about what you said about having a lesbian night at the club. And I know I don't seem like a lot of the lesbians you know but I am and-"
"Wait, you thought you couldn't tell me because you thought I wouldn't accept you?" Jack asked. "Sweetheart, that's , I love you and nothing is going to change that."
"I know, it seems silly now that I'm saying it." Vivian agreed. "I guess I just got in my own head about it."
"Does Mom know?"
"As far as I know, she doesn't."
"Well I can assure you, you have nothing to worry about." Jack said. "In fact, you probably don't even have to say anything. Just let her figure it out."
"Yeah, maybe you're right." Vivian nodded before resting her head on Jack's shoulder. "Thanks, Dad."