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Millicent Griffith thinks it might be the most beautiful day in Washington DC she can remember. It’s bright, not too hot and not too humid. She’d normally still be home at this hour, watching the birdfeeder while Evie made notes on draft opinions. But it’s the last day of the Supreme Court’s term and there are no more draft opinions. Today Evie left for the court before dawn, before Millie was even properly awake. Instead of stewing, Millie got dressed, brushed her teeth, and called Abbey.
Abbey, down from New Hampshire, recognized Millicent’s mood and invited her from breakfast at Zoey’s house. The two of them are now in what feels like the eye of a storm. Charlie, dedicated mayor to the residents of the District and even more dedicated father to his children, is on the phone with one of his aides, talking about the day’s schedule, while gathering everything his middle child needs for a day at science camp. Zoey is trying to talk their youngest through a crisis of confidence that has left him uncertain about his own day at theater camp. Their oldest is engaging the dog in some kind of game that involves no less than five balls in varying colors and sizes.
Millicent knows she raised two children, probably through hundreds of mornings like this one, but right now she cannot fathom the energy it would take. Abbey is watching her grandchildren affectionately, content to sip coffee and interject an occasional comment rather than participate in the melee.
Millicent resists the urge to pick up her phone, studying the refrigerator instead. There is children’s artwork, invitations, a few photos, and a large, handmade, color-coded calendar. Today’s camps are listed along with something about a CSA pick-up, and “Dad to Supreme Court.” Someone has drawn a rainbow.
There are two opinions left to be announced. There’s a case on right-to-work and interstate goat farming. But the case everyone is talking about is gay marriage. That’s why Charlie will be spending the first part of his working day at the court. That’s why Abbey is in town and giving Millicent sympathetic looks whenever she thinks Millicent isn’t looking.
That’s why Jed had wanted very badly to travel to DC. He wasn’t up to the trip, so Liz is staying with him in Manchester. He had been fishing for updates on this case since it was argued in April. Two days ago he had called Millicent to ask her if Evelyn ever talked about cases in her sleep. Millicent hadn’t told either Evelyn or Abbey about that one yet. Best to wait until nerves were lower.
Evelyn never spoke about cases before they were decided. That seems to be a fundamental part of her. Millicent loved her for, not in spite, of her loyalty to her work.
Two years ago, Mendoza’s majority opinion in Windsor had struck down section 3 of DOMA. Since then, everyone knew that this case would come, and how it would be decided when it did. Millicent knew of celebrations planned in gay bars across the city and across the country. Bells would ring, choirs would sing. Plenty of couples would hurry to city hall. Charlie himself might officiate a few marriages before the day was out.
But for now, they wait.
Zoey, apparently unsatisfied with the noise level in the kitchen, picks up her phone and Facetimes her sister. Ellie’s voice is too quiet to hear what she’s saying under the din, until Zoey passes the phone to Abbey and Millicent. Millicent, angling her face to Zoey’s phone and trying to avoid the most unflattering angle, can see that Ellie is already in her lab.
“Are you excited about today?” Abbey asks.
“I guess,” says Ellie. “I’m already gay-married, so this isn’t actually that big of a deal for me, personally, but I am glad for what it means for people who need to.”
“You never know, you might want to move to Montana,” says Abbey.
“We aren’t moving to Montana,” says Ellie.
“Good. We don’t see you enough as it is.”
Ellie looks away from her mother. She is chewing her lip, a habit she’s had since she was a girl. “Aunt Millie, what if there’s blowback from all of this? Will this impact you and Evelyn?”
Millicent smiles. “If things get difficult around here, maybe Evie will finally take me on the trip to Rome she’s been promising for years. Don’t worry about us.”
Ellie smiles, still a little anxious, and then the phone gets taken because her nephew has to show her a somersault he’s learned.
Millicent gives up and slides out her own phone and sends a text to two contacts. How’s she doing?
Bad Roberto Mendoza replies almost instantly.
She’s talking to the bust of Earl Warren again replies Christopher Mulready shortly after.
Well, if there had been any doubt about who was writing the opinion, that settled it.
She looks up from her phone. Charlie catches her eye across the room. “We should get going,” he says. He begins a circuit of the room, to kiss Zoey and each child goodbye. Abbey stands up and holds out her hand to Millicent.
Millicent checks the ring box in her purse, and then reaches up and takes Abbey’s hand.