Ray LEFT ME THERE, NEXT to the dryer, with an empty cocktail glass in my hand. I needed to go back to the party. But I stood there, frozen, thinking, Get out of here. I just couldn’t turn the doorknob. And then the door opened on its own. Celia. The raucous, bright-lit party behind her. “Evelyn, what are you doing?” “How did you find me?” “IT ran into Ruby, and she said I could find you drinking in the laundry room. I thought it was a euphemism.” “It wasn’t.” “I can see that.” “Do you sleep with women?” I asked. Celia, shocked, shut the door behind her. “What are you talking about?” “Ruby says you're a lesbian.” Celia looked over my shoulder. “Who cares what Ruby says?” “Are you?” “Are you going to stop being friends with me now? Is that what this is about?” “No,” I said, shaking my head. “Of course not. I would . . . never do that. I would never.” “What, then?” “I just want to know is all.” “Why?” “Don’t you think I have the right to know?” “Depends.” “So you are?” I asked. Celia put her hand on the doorknob and prepared to leave. Instinctively, I leaned forward and grabbed her wrist. “What are you doing?” she said.