Chapter 5: The Good Samaritan

Three weeks later, Walker was eating lunch in the break room. Angela sat down across the table and opened her lunch sack. They discussed the new company policy of wearing hot pink targets on the front of their work aprons that proclaimed “Ask me! I’m your man!” 

“I'm not even a man!” laughed Angela.

“And I look terrible in hot pink,” shot back Walker. “Who comes up with this stuff?

“Corporate I suppose,” answered Angela. “I'm sure it sounded great at the company retreat. I can almost imagine them sitting around brainstorming of this nonsense. The problem is that we have to live with it.”

“That's what you get when you work for the Pharaoh,” said Walker.

“For sure!” said Connie, chewing her sandwich. “Hey Walker. Would you and Connie like to come over for dinner this week?”

“Sure,” said Walker noncommittally. 

“How’s Saturday?” 

“Umm…” Walker paused awkwardly. Since he had started work at the Lumber Depot his conservative friends had confirmed the rumor: Angela was on the board of Planned Parenthood and lived with her partner, Amy. It was one thing to hang out with people like that at work. But to go over to their house for dinner? What would his friends think?

“How nice of you,” he said, “Let me check with Connie and get back to you.”

That evening, Walker and Connie sat on the back porch.

“I don't know,” said Connie. “Wouldn't having dinner with them and imply that we approve of their lifestyle? Aren't we supposed to stand up against that sort of thing?”

Walker was conflicted. He had sat through his share of sermons about the dangers of homosexuality and the evils of Planned Parenthood but Angela seemed the furthest thing from dangerous or evil. In fact, through the struggle of losing Lizzie, she had been his closest friend. 

“It's just dinner,” he said, “and Angela has been so great to us through everything. It feels a little weird to me too but I think we should accept.”

“I’m game,” said Connie. “I suppose we can hate the sin and love the sinner.”

On Saturday evening, Walker and Connie walked up the steps of a big house in the expensive part of town. 

“Wow,” observed Walker. “They must pay Angela a lot more than they pay me!”

They rang the doorbell. Angela open the door. 

“Come on in!” she said enthusiastically. “This is my partner Amy.”

“And this is Connie,” said Walker. “The one I have told you so much about.”

Angela laughed. “Well, Connie, I know enough about Walker to know that you must be a saint. It is very nice to finally meet you.”

Connie gazed up at the spiral staircase and vaulted ceilings. “What a beautiful home you have,” she said admiringly. 

“Thank you,” said Angela. “As you can see, we don't both work out the Lumber Depot. Amy is a Pediatrician.” 

“Honestly, with the way health care is going, I wish I worked at the Lumber Depot too,” said Amy. “Dinner’s ready and I’m starving. Let’s head into the dining room and get at it.” 

They took their places at a big oak table and began to eat.

“This spaghetti sauce is amazing!” said Connie.

“Angela’s first love is cooking,” said Amy. “She even studied to be a chef.”

“How did you wind up working with at the Lumber Depot?” asked Connie. “You should be at a five star restaurant.”

“It’s a long story,” said Angela. She looked at Amy. “But I like how things have turned out just fine.”

The conversation turned to healthcare. Amy talked about her frustrations as a physician. The Walkers told their story of meeting Lizzie at the emergency room. 

“All I know is that the system is broken,