Karen D. Badger - Yesterday Once More (13 page)

“Time will tell. So, we’ll do another round of blood tests this morning, and if the results are normal, we’ll schedule the surgery for the electrodes. If that goes well, you could be home in a couple of days. That doesn’t mean you’ll be off the hook, mind you. A few days of bed rest when you get home, and then you should be as good as new.”

“Please tell me that ‘bed rest’ is only a figure of speech. Don’t tell me I really have to stay in bed.”

Peter smiled. “Only for a few days. After that, you’ll have to be especially careful about getting in and out of your chair. In fact, it would be best if you had help with that.”

* * *

Jordan spent the rest of the day reading excerpts from Maggie’s diary. At six o’clock, Kale poked his head through her door. “Hey, girlfriend!”

Jordan looked up. Kale had a wide smile on his face. Jordan smiled back at him. She closed the diary and crossed her arms in front of her. “Something tells me you had a good day. You look like the cat that ate the canary.”

Kale pulled a chair close to her bed. “It was incredible. I did as you suggested. I complimented her on her perfume and then quickly changed the subject to the power supply. She kind of blushed a little and thanked me. I could see her glancing at me and smiling on and off for the rest of the morning. When it was time for lunch, she asked me to join her. What do you think of that, huh?”

Jordan clapped her hands. “I think it’s a great start. Remember not to move too fast. Tomorrow, comment on her outfit and then do little things that might please her, but do
not
overdo it. Take it slow. If she likes you, it’ll get easier. She’ll start reciprocating with little gestures of her own.”

Kale took Jordan’s hand. “I can’t thank you enough. I really, really like her. She’s so smart. We spent the entire day brainstorming ways to integrate the power supply into the body’s natural energy-generating capabilities. She’s brilliant, and she’s beautiful. I struggle to stay focused on the task. During the meeting, I was so mesmerized by her, I hardly heard a word Peter said.”

“Peter was right.”

“What was that?”

“Oh, nothing. She asked you to lunch, huh? I assume you went?”

“You bet I did. It was only to the cafeteria, but heck, it’s a start.”

“That it is. Congratulations. Just remember to take it slow, okay?”

“Slow... got it. How was your day?”

“Fairly uneventful. My white count isn’t quite normal, but it’s improving. Peter is hoping we can do the pre-surgical workup tomorrow, then the electrode prep surgery. I’m so tired of being in the hospital.”

“Did Peter say when you can go back to work?”

“It looks like I’ll be confined to home for a while. Peter is prescribing a week of post-operative bed rest.”

“You’ll follow Peter’s orders, right?” Kale asked.

Jordan pretended to take offense. “What is it with you and Peter? I do know how to follow orders, you know.”

“I know you know how. The question is, will you?”

Jordan picked up the diary and swatted Kale. “Get out of here before I kick your ass,” she said. “Go home. Get some sleep. I expect to be waited on hand and foot when I get home, so you’d better rest up. By the way, you forgot one of the diaries. It might have fallen on the floor next to the end table in the living room. If you think of it, bring it by on your next visit.”

Kale saluted Jordan as he left the room.

Early the next morning, a lab technician woke Jordan from a sound sleep to draw what she hoped would be the final blood sample. Not long after he left, she fell back to sleep, only to be wakened some time later by the scent of patchouli. As she opened her eyes, she expected to see Maggie sitting by her bedside. Instead, her eyes fell upon a very beautiful blonde. As her blurry vision cleared, she realized the woman was Andrea Ellis.

Jordan ran her fingers through her disheveled hair. “Andrea! I didn’t expect to see you here. When I smelled patchouli, I thought you might be someone else.”

“Please, call me Andi. Andrea is such a formal name. You like patchouli? It’s one of my favorite scents.”

Jordan groped around until she found the remote control for the bed and adjusted her position. She looked at Andi’s slim, shapely legs, just slightly out of arm’s reach.
Damn, she’s beautiful!

Jordan looked around. “Is Kale with you?”

“No. He’s in the middle of some critical tests on the implant. He asked me to drop this off.” Andi handed a diary to Jordan. “Apparently, he forgot it yesterday.”

Jordan accepted the book. “Thanks for bringing it to me. I appreciate it.”

“That’s a really old book. Kale said you found several volumes hidden between the wallboards of your house?”

Jordan looked at the book in her hands. It was the next diary in the series. “Yes. I was doing some remodeling a couple of weeks ago, and when we tore down the sheetrock, I found them. Thanks again for bringing this to me.”

“You’re welcome.” Andi rose to her feet and hesitated, a series of emotions playing across her face. Finally, she sat back down on the edge of the chair and looked at Jordan.

“Jordan, can I ask you something?”

“Sure.”

Andi looked down at her hands and then back up at Jordan. “You and Kale live together, right?”

Jordan could see where this was going. “Yes we do, but—”

Andi interrupted her. “Do you love him?”

Jordan cocked her head to one side. “I love him very much. He’s a wonderful man.”

Andrea looked down at her hands again. “I see,” she said softly, standing to leave. “I guess I should get back to the lab.”

“Andi, come back, please.”

Andrea stopped and turned around.

“Please, sit. You need to know something about Kale and me.” Andi hesitated. “Please.” Jordan waited until Andi returned to her seat.

“I’m listening.”

Jordan ran her hand through her hair. “Kale and I are just friends. I know how lame that sounds, but it’s true. I’m going to tell you something that I don’t normally share, because no one really needs to know something this personal about me.”

Andi leaned forward. “You don’t owe me an explanation.”

“No, I don’t, but I really love Kale, and I happen to know he’s quite smitten with you. I’ll be damned if I’m going to do anything to ruin it for him.”

Andi smiled. “He’s smitten with me?”

“Like a schoolboy. Anyhow, you need to know that even though Kale and I have lived together for four years, we haven’t been together. We’ve been housemates, pure and simple.”

Andi frowned. “Don’t you find him attractive?”

Jordan grinned. “Kale is very cute. No, he’s more than cute. He’s a very good-looking man, even though he doesn’t know how to comb his hair.” Andi laughed and nodded in agreement. Jordan paused to collect her thoughts. “Look, Andi, Kale is great. He can cook, he doesn’t mind housework, he’s extremely intelligent, and he is a wonderfully nice, loyal, considerate person, but to be honest, I find you much more attractive than I do him.” Jordan fell silent as she waited for Andi’s reaction.

Please don’t tell me you’re a dumb blonde. I don’t want to have to spell it out for you.
Suddenly, Andi’s eyebrows shot up. One hand flew to her mouth to hide her surprise.
Okay, you’ve got it. Good girl. Come on, you can say it.

Andi rose to her feet and walked across the room. Then she turned to look at Jordan. “Are you telling me that you’re gay?”

“Queer as they come, through and through.”

Andi sat back in her chair and stared at Jordan, who began to feel uneasy under the scrutiny. “You’re making me nervous.”

Andi smiled. “I can see why Kale likes you. You’re very funny.”

“Oh yeah, I’m a barrel of laughs.” Jordan paused. “Andi, what I just told you is very personal for me. A select few know. Kale and Peter, and now you. It’s not that I’m ashamed of it—and heaven knows, the need to be in the closet ended about fifty years ago, but this is a very sacred thing for me. I don’t broadcast it to the world any more than a heterosexual person would. Does that make sense?”

“I understand. Really, I do. Please don’t worry. As you said, it’s your personal business. I’m honored that you shared it with me.”

“I just don’t want Kale to be hurt because of a misconception. He deserves so much more.”

Andi smiled. “He seems like a very nice man.”

“They don’t get any better than Kale. The woman who wins his heart will be very, very lucky.”

* * *

After Andi left, Jordan contemplated the sparse furnishings of her hospital room. She missed the comfort of her home. She longed to be in front of the fireplace, enjoying the warmth as the wind and snow raged outside. She found herself wondering if Maggie enjoyed such comforts on cold winter days. A chill ran through her as she realized that she and Maggie had actually shared the same physical space, albeit at different times in history. Jordan closed her eyes and imagined what it would be like to spend such intimate moments with her dream lover.

Jordan stood at the kitchen table and poured merlot into two long-stemmed glasses. Setting the bottle aside, she picked up the glasses and made her way into the living room, lit only by firelight. She paused just inside the room for a moment to allow her eyes to adjust to the dim light. Then she walked carefully to the pile of blankets and pillows that were scattered on the floor in front of the fireplace. Outside, the snow gently fell, covering the earth in a blanket of white.

She stopped at the edge of the pillows and handed a glass of wine to the woman lying on them. “Thank you, my love,” Maggie said as she accepted the glass and brought it to her lips. Jordan gently lowered herself into a semi-reclining position next to Maggie.

Propped up on one elbow, Jordan sipped her wine as she admired the beauty of the woman lying beside her. Maggie was of medium height, with long, slender limbs and a tiny waist. She wore faded low-cut denim jeans and a short-waisted turtleneck sweater, which framed her face like a Victorian lace collar. A mass of unruly, curly red hair cascaded over her shoulders. Jordan couldn’t look away as she watched Maggie sip her wine, then run her tongue over the rim of the glass to capture a drop that threatened to escape. A shiver of anticipation ran through her.

Maggie looked at her. “Are you cold?” she asked.

Jordan smiled and transferred her wine glass to the other hand then reached forward and traced the side of Maggie’s face with her fingertips. “No. I was just imagining making love to you.”

Maggie smiled, and Jordan’s insides melted. “My God, you are beautiful.” Maggie turned her eyes away to sip her wine while Jordan admired her creamy white skin, tinged pink by the heat of the fire. Maggie placed her glass on the hearth. She then took Jordan’s wine from her and placed it beside her own. Jordan’s breath caught in her throat as she anticipated Maggie’s next move.

Maggie placed her hand on Jordan’s shoulder and gently pressed her back into the pillows. She leaned over her and lowered her mouth to Jordan’s, delicately tracing Jordan’s lips with her tongue. Jordan shivered once more as their tongues intertwined. They shared the sweet taste of wine as they savored each other’s mouths for several long moments.

Jordan caught Maggie’s face between her hands. “I love you,” she whispered huskily.

“I love you too, dear heart,” Maggie replied. “Let me show you how much.”

Jordan was helpless to resist as she granted permission with a nod, releasing her hold on Maggie’s face and allowing her hands to fall to the pillows. She waited patiently as Maggie drank deeply from her wine then set the glass aside once more. Jordan’s patience was rewarded when Maggie leaned forward and transferred the mahogany liquid into her mouth.

For what seemed like an eternity, Maggie explored Jordan’s mouth with her tongue, flitting in and around its moist depths, and thrusting deeply. Jordan could feel the dampness between her legs increase with each probing thrust of Maggie’s tongue. The pungent taste of merlot accented the kiss with intoxicating results.

Jordan’s desire raged out of control as her hands flew up to grasp Maggie’s bottom. She kneaded the supple flesh until she could feel the heat directly through Maggie’s jeans.

Maggie pushed herself to a seated position so that she straddled Jordan’s waist. She reached up and grasped Jordan’s wrists, pushing her hands above her head and into the pillows. Maggie lowered her face to Jordan’s and whispered softly, “No, no, my love. No hands. Just relax and enjoy this.”

Jordan fought with herself to keep her hands off her lover as Maggie sat up once more and removed her sweater. Beneath the sweater, she wore a black lace bra which afforded Jordan an up close view of her ample cleavage.

Maggie threw the sweater aside and leaned closer to Jordan. “Do you like what you see, lover?” she teased.

Jordan nodded and allowed the truth to show in her eyes. She couldn’t speak.

“Good,” Maggie replied. “Now it’s your turn.” Her hands snaked under Jordan’s shirt and pushed it up and over her head. Jordan’s sports bra quickly followed suit. “You are so beautiful,” Maggie whispered as she traced the outline of Jordan’s breasts with her fingertips. Maggie leaned in and captured first one, then the other erect nipple between her teeth and flicked the sensitive buds with the tip of her tongue. Jordan’s chest arched high off the pillows as she thrust her breasts closer to Maggie, silently demanding more.