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Introduction
After an intense coming to terms with herself, Juliana must find her own path. She makes startling discoveries about the gay community in general and other lesbians in particular. She must determine how to relate to and deal with her suicidal estranged husband, her confused young teen children, her nuclear-family Christian friends, and herself.
During this time, Denny becomes more unpredictable and frightening, to Adam and Ashley as well as to Juliana. She casually reminds him of her long-standing curiosity about lesbianism, but constantly assures him of her love for him. Still, she plans a weekend with a single lesbian woman who visits from another state. During her absence from home on a weekend, Denny goes totally berserk, threatening divorce and “outing” Juliana to Adam and Ashley.
Denny then urges Juliana to spend another weekend with computer lesbian friend Sharla, who also plans to visit from another state. This time Juliana is gone for eight days but continues to care for Adam and Ashley. After Sharla’s visit, Denny becomes suicidal, and eventually spends a week in the mental hospital. During this time, Child Protective Services suspects that Denny has been abusing* Ashley, and Denny is prohibited from returning home. Denny, unable to handle what’s happening, files for divorce. Juliana also has to deal with letting go of Megan and her husband Peter, Juliana’s best computer buddy. Denny continues to threaten suicide and then makes an actual attempt.
Adam goes away to boarding school. Ashley and Juliana begin a new life alone, now with visits from Ann, a single lesbian woman who lives nearby. Juliana finds herself in love with Sharla, with Carla (another “cyberdyke” whom she has never met in person), and Ann. Juliana continues to homeschool Ashley, but gets a part-time office job, returning to the workforce after 17 years, and renewing her professional image and skills.
She undergoes gall bladder surgery, must make decisions about major car repairs, and rejection from first Carla then Sharla, then dealing with her own feelings about Ann. Ashley and Juliana attend the Fort Worth First church, rather than Southgate, where Denny still goes.
* Child abuse is the physical or psychological/emotional mistreatment of children. In the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defines child maltreatment as any act or series of acts of commission or omission by a parent or other caregiver that results in harm, potential for harm, or threat of harm to a child.
- Cowgirl Carin
- The Aftermath
- Making New Plans
- Rainbows Come in All Colors
- The Nightmare of Reality
- Ann Roberts
- Separation, Divorce, and Exes
- Working for the Enemy
- Health Hazards
- Highlands Move to Fort Worth
- With Friends Like These
- Friends for Life
- Perhaps Love
- The Holidays Begin
- Mixed Messages
- Different Dreams
- Epilogue