She has a second date the following week with Nicola, and she feels like it’s a success in its own right. It goes nowhere other than ending the night with a little bit of a flirtation and a new possible friend, which is good because – well, she doesn’t need to involve anyone else in her feelings jungle right now.

The good part is that it serves as a reminder for Caroline that eventually, when she’s ready and emotionally available, there will be other women to fall for.

She thinks that’s really the end of the entire dating aspect of her life for the moment, until she picks up Abbie from school on the September equinox.

“Happy first day of fall,” she greets her ten-year-old sidekick, and is ready to indulge in the many conversations Abbie has already had with her about the fall activities she wants to do.

Instead, she’s knocked right off her stride when Abbie looks up at her with a contemplative look and asks, “Did you go on a date?”

Caroline almost trips over her own feet just because it’s the last thing she’d expected Abbie to ask her about. “Where did you hear that?” Because she just can’t imagine Hannah bringing it up to Abbie. Not when she hasn’t even brought it up to Caroline.

“Norah,” Abbie answers immediately and it doesn’t stop her from pressing, “So, you did?”

Caroline has to hold in a groan and reminds herself to text Jared later and tell her brother to watch his big mouth. She looks down at the entirely serious inquisitive look on Abbie’s face and she can’t lie to her. Why should she, anyway?

“I did,” she answers slowly, dragging out the words.

“And it was with a woman. Right?” Abbie asks, which actually does give Caroline pause. She’s never discussed her dating life with Abbie, because why in the world would she? It’s never been relevant, especially given her lack of romantic interest – other than Abbie’s own mother – for the entire year so far.

Abbie doesn’t pause though, she just lifts up her eyebrows quizzically at Caroline when she doesn’t say anything. “Because you’re a lesbian, so you’d go out with a woman.”

The words are so flippant when they leave her mouth, Abbie doesn’t seem to have any doubts or questions about it, and Caroline already knew that Hannah has been a fantastic parent. But she is so incredibly relieved and proud, in a weird way, that Abbie gets all of this goodness from Hannah and none of the ugliness that Caroline had experienced with Michael.

It makes her laugh, nodding and tucking her chin into her light autumn jacket as the wind picks up. “Yeah, I’m a lesbian. I went out with a woman.”