Change is good, unless it isn't

Chapter 9

Normani carefully makes her way up the ice covered path to the apartment complex. It's already late November and the snow had fallen ankle deep during the night. She trudges up the few stairs and rings the bell, praying to God someone was actually there.

She waits a few minutes before ringing it again. This time she hears the tale tell shuffling of footsteps and the door quickly being unlocked. Her breath catches as the door opens to Dinah wearing only a silk robe with a bottle of wine clutched tightly in her hand. Her eyes are red rimmed and slightly puffy, and her hair is precariously thrown into a ponytail with a few wisps flying freely around her face.

"Hello, Normani," she says with a weak smile, her words coming out with a tipsy lilt.

Normani narrows her eyes and walks through the door before shutting it behind her. It's only eight in the morning; Dinah must've started drinking as soon as the sun had came up. She tries to pry the bottle from Dinah's fingers. "C'mon, Dinah. Let me have it."

Frowning, Dinah relinquishes the bottle from her grasp. Normani shakes her head and holds it up between them. "You have any other plans today?"

Normani marches into the kitchen and pours it out in the sink. Dinah grimaces. It was her last bottle of cheap Pinot.

She'd have to go buy more later.

Normani raises her eyebrows after the bottle is drained dry. "So...you were just going to sit at home and get drunk? On Thanksgiving?"

Dinah quickly looks down to the floor, letting her embarrassment and shame fill in the gap between them and hang heavily down around their shoulders. "Thanksgiving was Tanner's favorite holiday," she says voice barely a whisper.

Normani takes a deep breath. She knew it was the right decision to come over this morning. "Do you have any coffee? We're going somewhere and it'd be best if you were sober."

"Coffee actually further dehydrates the body, making it more difficult to become sober and..." Dinah clears her throat, cheeks flushing in embarrassment as Normani looks at her incredulously. "Water. I just need to drink water."

Normani exaggeratedly nods her head a fills a glass before handing it over to her. She drinks it all as Normani keeps a watchful eye on her. "Where are we going?"

She finally gives Dinah a full grin and starts to drag her back to the bedroom. "You'll see."

.....

After 30 minutes of trying to pick out what to wear—both of the dresses looked identical to Normani, most likely because she was too focused on Dinah flitting around the room in nothing but her bra and underwear—they finally step out of the bedroom and start walking towards the door to leave.

Right before Normani can unlock it, the clock strikes nine. Dinah quickly grabs her arm to stop her. "Normani...do you think we can stay here for a little while longer?"

Normani is rendered helpless when Dinah's bottom lip rolls out ever so slightly. She grins and leans back against the door. "If you insist."

Dinah smiles the smile Normani anxiously waits to get a glimpse of every day, the one that briefly lights up her face and eyes and warms Normani from head toe. They make their way to the couch, and flip through the channels until hitting Channel 4.

Normani fights a grin before looking at Dinah. "The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade?"

Dinah nods. "Yes, I've watched it every year for," her grin slightly falters, "six years now."

Normani wraps her arm around Dinah's shoulders and pulls her into her side. Normani knows Dinah doesn't open up much about her past and she'll take anything she can if it lets her get a peek into Dinah's life. "Really?"