Deadly Medicine (21 page)

She blushed. “Thanks.” Her grin quickly spread to Abby, and they were still smiling a few minutes later when the server delivered two cheeseburgers and a heaping basket of fries with vinegar on the side.

“So where’d you go?” Ward asked.

“Hmm?” Abby asked, her mouth twisted in confusion.

“You said you were away. Where’d you go?”

“Rehoboth Beach, Delaware.”

Ward couldn’t help smiling. “I love Rehoboth. I’ve spent a lot of time there over the years.”

Abby nodded. “My ex has a house there.” Then she said, “I have my own bedroom. Separate from hers.”

Ward bit her lip to stop the emerging laugh. “I understand. I pretty much have my own room there, too. In my friend’s house. Not my ex’s.”

“Your ex doesn’t want you around?”

Ward sensed Abby was fishing for information about her sexuality. She didn’t hesitate to tell her. “No, I don’t think she does,” she said, laughing at the absurdity of life. A few days earlier, she’d been crying about Jess, and now she was sharing a burger with a beautiful woman who seemed to be flirting with her, and Jess seemed like a distant memory.

They were quiet for a moment as they enjoyed their food. Ward’s, covered with mushrooms and Swiss cheese, was so tasty she didn’t even bother adding any of the various condiments the waitress had offered. She tried not to moan as she tasted the wonderful blend of flavors. When she’d finished, she deposited her flag-adorned napkin onto her plate. Resisting the urges to burp and pick her teeth, she folded her hands politely beneath her chin. “Thank you for today,” she said after a moment.

Abby wiped her mouth and looked at Ward, a question in her eyes. Ward saw them light with recognition as she divined what Ward was talking about and how she felt about the day. “It’s important to you to do the right thing, isn’t it?”

Ward shrugged.

“You must make enemies.” Abby leaned against the wall behind her. The sun was beginning its descent into the mountain behind Ward, and the last rays were bathing Abby. She seemed to relish the warmth on her face, and even though she wore sunglasses, Ward could tell her eyes were closed.

“Sometimes. But you do it anyway. The right thing, I mean. You did today.” Abby had been the one talking to the officials at the Department of Health so that Ward and Frankie and the other staff members could take care of patients. In the end, they’d managed to locate all forty-two shots, and Abby had arranged for the entire group to have their second doses at the hospital-owned clinic to reduce the logjam in the ER.

A frown appeared on Abby’s face. “I do try. But it’s sometimes difficult to determine what the right thing is. It can differ from day to day. And working with physicians can be trying. They all have an opinion, and everyone’s version of the right thing is a little different, so no matter what you do, someone is unhappy about it.”

“So you just do your best, right?”

Now Ward could tell Abby’s eyes were open. “It’s all you can do.”

The conversation had somehow gotten serious, and as the waitress came to clear their table, Ward decided to lighten it a bit. “So what are you best at?”

Abby took Ward’s teasing tone and ran with it. “Oh, now that’s a loaded question.”

Ward laughed. “It wasn’t meant to be. I mean…what do you do for fun?”

They split the check and began the short walk back to the hospital. Ward found herself walking slowly as she listened to Abby, trying to prolong their time together. “I like to work in my yard, play around with landscaping a little. I like to spend time on the river, fishing and kayaking. And then there’s my love-hate relationship with my golf clubs. I spend a good amount of my time with them. How about you? Do you golf?”

“I do.”

Abby stopped and turned to Ward, grabbing her arm. “Are you free next weekend? I need someone for the hospital tournament. This could be perfect!”

Ward chewed the inside of her lip. She was supposed to play with Frieda, and as tempting as the invitation was, she couldn’t stand her up. “I wish I could, but I have plans to play with a friend.”

Instead of the disappointment she’d expected, Abby’s face became even brighter. “You have a friend? Who plays golf?”

Ward nodded and laughed. “Don’t sound so surprised.”

“Ha, ha. No, this is perfect, perfect! Dick Rove still isn’t ready to play, so he and his wife pulled out. I need two people. If you and your friend could play, you’d really make my day.”

Ward liked the idea, too. “I’ll call her in the morning and check. If she’s willing, I’d love to.”

They’d reached the hospital’s parking garage, but instead of heading in that direction, they turned toward the house where Ward was staying. Abby grinned when she saw the kayak atop Ward’s car. “Is that yours?”

Ward nodded and patted the battered blue plastic affectionately. “Sure is.”

Abby grinned mischievously. “I was thinking of going out tomorrow. Wanna join me?”

Ward was taken aback by the invitation, not because it should have surprised her, after their night under the fireworks and the burgers they’d shared, but because it had been so long since she’d spent time with a woman who wasn’t Jess. If she’d taken time to think about it, she might have actually declined the invitation, just out of habit. But before she could think, the response was out of her mouth, and Abby was asking the next question.

“Would one o’clock work for you? I really do have some work to catch up on in the morning, but if we go out in the afternoon, I’ll have it all done and can just relax. And have fun.”

Ward agreed to the time. She could use the morning to catch up on her own errands, tasks ignored while she worked four consecutive, very long days. But was she really ready for this? She had no doubt what Abby had on her mind. She was obviously single and had been flirting with her from the moment they’d met. She’d waited for her to ask her out for a burger and told her she was cute. Abby was definitely interested.

As she watched Abby walk away, her sculpted ass swaying seductively, Ward had to admit that she was, too.

*

An unpleasant combination of fear and anticipation surged through Ward’s body, not by turns, but instead sharing attention and threatening to short-circuit her neurons. For the hour since Abby had left her, she’d thought of nothing but the next day, and the more she thought about it, the more anxious she became. It took her awhile, but she finally figured out what was bothering her. She feared the possibility that dating Abby would mean it was really over with Jess.

Yes, Jess was dating. But Ward’s heart was still true, and until she herself moved on, until both of them had moved on, it wasn’t truly over. Jess was still real to her, and if she went kayaking with Abby—on a date with her—that would truly mean the end of the most significant relationship she’d ever had. She didn’t feel ready to make that turn, yet at the same time she envisioned a day on the river with Abby, laughing and soaking up the sunshine, relaxing as her kayak glided along the surface of the water.

It had been forever since she’d really enjoyed herself, yet in just a couple of days, Abby had managed to bring her more joy than she’d felt in the past year. She wanted that—to be with Abby and laugh. Perhaps she wanted even more. She hadn’t really had time to think about it. Yet, now, she couldn’t avoid the difficult decision before her or pretend it was insignificant. Kayaking together wouldn’t be a chance meeting; it was premeditated and full of promise. The promise of happiness, at least for a few hours. But if she wanted to have any fun with Abby tomorrow, she needed Jess’s blessing.

Jess’s number was first on her favorites’ list, and she dialed it as she paced the kitchen. It was already after ten, and normally she wouldn’t have called so late, but she had to. If she didn’t, she’d spend a sleepless night worrying about making the call in the morning. No way was she spending a day on the river with Abby if Jess made her a better offer. Hell, any offer.

Waiting was torture, and Jess made her listen to several rings before answering. She envisioned Jess staring at the phone’s screen, deciding if she wanted to talk to her, and the thought made her sad.

“Hi, stranger,” Jess greeted her, and Ward thought it an odd choice of words. If they’d become strangers it was only by Jess’s design. Why rub it in? She heard no emotion in Jess’s voice, neither happiness nor anger. She was annoyingly indifferent.

“How’s it going?” Ward asked, fighting tears. It was difficult to make this call, and even harder to hear everything unspoken in Jess’s response. Yet she needed to hear Jess tell her their relationship was over. Again. She just needed to hear the words so they might register, finally, in her heart.

“Good. Really good, in fact.”

Jess didn’t offer, but Ward had to ask. “Wendy?”

Ward heard Jess take a deep breath. “Ward…” she said, stretching the monosyllable into three.

Ward sighed. Was she that annoying that Jess couldn’t bear to deal with her? Or was Jess that much of a jerk? The way Jess was acting, and had acted, suddenly pissed her off. And angry felt a whole lot better than sad.

“Listen, Jess. I just need to ask you one thing, and I’ll never bother you again. If I want something after this, I’ll have my lawyer call you, okay? So, are you sure about this? Because…”

The anger evaporated as she realized what she was about to say. Lowering her voice, softening her rage, she said, “I met someone, Jess. Someone…fun. And beautiful. And she asked me out. But I can’t say yes if I’m worrying about you. So if you tell me it’s really over, I’m ready to move on and start dating. If you tell me to wait, because you’re not sure—well, I’ll wait. Because…”

Even though it was still true, Ward couldn’t say I love you, not after what she’d been through. After what Jess put her through.

“What’s her name?” Jess asked, and Ward heard more kindness in her voice than she’d heard in a long while.

She stopped pacing and looked out at the hospital parking garage in the distance. It was brightly lit and gave the eerie appearance of daylight even though it was late. Then she imagined a face, with eyes that held laughter and tremendous warmth, and it suddenly softened the view from her window. “Abby.”

“What’s she like?”

Ward ran a hand through her hair, anxious. She hadn’t called to talk about Abby. “What the fuck is this, Jess? An interview?”

“Ouch. Sorry. I was just trying to be friendly.”

Closing her eyes, she swallowed a tear. “Hmmm. I guess I didn’t recognize friendly.”

Jess gasped. “I guess I deserve that. And you deserve some happiness. So go out with your Abby and have fun. If things change on my end, I’ll let you know.”

The coldness was back in Jess’s voice, and it was just what Ward needed. Anger was definitely much better than sadness. “I can’t do that, Jess. I can’t be with her and think I might have a chance with you. I can’t use her for entertainment while you’re making up your mind.”

“I don’t know what else to say. Go out with her. I’m dating, and you should, too.”

“So, it’s really over?” Ward put a palm to the forehead that suddenly throbbed, wishing she could retract the words, knowing how pathetic they sounded. She reached for a glass and turned on the water.

“I hope we’ll always be friends.”

“I have no interest in friendship, Jess,” she said and hung up.

Cardiac Contusion

Why have a GPS when none of the roads show up on it?
It seemed like the device was useless in the mountains, and Ward turned around for the third time on a deserted stretch of road, searching for Abby’s driveway. She thought back to the last time she’d been in this situation, driving in circles around Frieda’s lake. That day had started off terribly but ended well. She could only hope this one was half as good.

She pulled off to the side and dialed Abby’s number. Thankfully, she had cell-phone service.

“I ran out of gas driving in circles. What do you suggest?”

“Give me landmarks, maybe I can help.”

She looked around. “I see trees. Green ones. Oh, and a bird. A big one. Big and black.”

“Well, you’re very close, then.”

Ward chuckled. Abby made her laugh, and at the moment, Ward loved her for that. She’d spent a restless night after talking to Jess, had called several friends to cry with in the middle of the night, and awoke in the morning with a migraine.

Yet, she’d vowed to move on. Her date on the river with Abby was the first step in her new journey, and with Abby’s wicked and delightful sense of humor, Ward thought it had the potential to be a great trip.

“Help me! Please!”

“Okay, okay. Lock your doors so a bear doesn’t attack you, and I’ll come rescue you.”

“Do you know where I am?”

“I have no idea, but you sound so pathetic I have to at least try.”

“Gee, thanks.”

“Tell me the last thing you saw that was man-made.”

Ward thought for a moment. “I saw a sign for boats. Gondola something.”

“Great! You’re on the right road. That’s the company that sells and fixes boats on the lake. Is that sign in front of you or behind you?”

“I have no idea. I’ve turned around a few times.”

“What direction are you facing?”

Ward looked at the compass on her mirror. “East.”

“Okay, stay put. I’m heading east, and with that kayak on your roof, I should be able to spot you. So, how was your day?”

“What?”

“How was your day? What did you do?”

Ward couldn’t tell her. She didn’t want to talk about Jess, or how she’d spent much of the morning thinking of her as she’d shopped for groceries and laundered her clothes. “It was okay. I bought some food and washed clothes. Nothing special.”

“Well, I’m glad about the clothes. I don’t want you smelling funny. Look to your left.”

Ward did as directed and smiled at a waving Abby. She wore a huge grin beneath a Phillies cap and sunglasses, and Ward could see it all clearly because Abby was driving a sporty little red convertible.

“We have to turn around,” Abby said, and made a K turn right in the middle of the road. Since Ward hadn’t seen any other vehicles in the time she’d been lost, she figured Abby, in her tiny Porsche 911, was probably safe.