by K A Moll
“Good deal,” Keegan said, reaching into her back pocket for her wallet. “I’d like to go ahead and pay you so that you can lock in the dates.”
“That’s fine,” she answered. “And, just to clarify, you’re only interested in that one weekend?”
“For now, yes, just the one weekend. I’m afraid a second choice would require some thought.”
The travel agent smiled. “Then, I shall endeavor to complete your bookings as requested.”
“Thanks,” Keegan responded, on her feet, and moving toward the door, “I’ll look for your email.”
*
“Sorry I’m late,” Keegan said, setting down her bag, and kissing Willow. “I had my key in the ignition and got called back for an emergency.”
“I knew something happened,” Willow responded, patting the sofa cushion. “Come sit down. Let me rub your shoulders.”
“Did you eat?” Keegan asked, loosening her tie.
“No, I knew you’d be home before too long. Otherwise, you’d have called.”
Home, Keegan thought, she called my condo home. “You can’t count on that. If it’s bad, I just have to go. And, if it’s really bad, and I’m challenged, the surgery’s all I can think about.”
“Don’t worry, sweetie, I won’t starve,” Willow answered, applying firm pressure to release tension from her muscles.
Keegan moved her neck, moaning. “Oh God, do you ever know how to do that…Mmmm, right there, baby.”
“How’d it go today?” Willow asked softly. “I mean, anxiety-wise?”
Keegan’s voice dropped. “About the same.”
Willow kissed the top of her head. “Don’t get down on yourself. You’ll find that ever-elusive mojo again.”
“God, I hope you’re right,” Keegan answered, swallowing. “So, what do you want to do about dinner?”
“I thought we’d order a pizza.”
“Sounds good as long as you hold the processed.”
Willow chuckled. “I know how you like it,” she answered, pausing her deep massage to place the order. “No bacon or pepperoni.”
“You got it,” Keegan responded. “Oh, and I almost forgot,” she added, the corners of her mouth turning upward into a broad smile. “I have a surprise for you.”
Willow’s eyes widened. “You have a surprise for me? What kind of surprise?”
“This kind of surprise,” Keegan answered, reaching into the inside pocket of her jacket, and handing her the bank paper that showed her student loans had been paid in full. Her smiled faded, Willow’s expression tying a knot in the pit of her stomach.
When Willow spoke, her tone was carefully controlled. “You paid them off? Just like that without talking with me, you paid off my loans?
“I thought you’d be happy.”
“Well, I’m not happy,” Willow answered, walking off, and picking up Ripple.
“Willow—”
“I can’t believe you did this without at least talking with me.” She glared, stroking Ripple. “I can’t believe you dug through my desk, read my personal documents—”
“I didn’t dig through your desk. You left the paper on the table in clear view.”
Willow’s eyes narrowed. “Oh, and that makes it alright?”
“No, probably not.”
Willow shook her head, looking off. “You went to my bank, Keegan, paid off my loans like I was a child. Do you have any idea how embarrassing that is?”
“Not like a child,” Keegan muttered, looking at her. “But I did what I did,” she added, hating that her action had led to an argument, “so, now where do we go?”
“I guess you figure out a payment schedule.”
“I’ll do no such thing.”
“Oh, but you will.”
“No, Willow, I won’t,” Keegan responded, taking a deep breath, and letting it go. “Okay, so I’m still trying to get this straight in my mind, you’ve been worried sick about making those payments, and I solve your problem by paying off the loans, and you’re mad at me? You’re mad at me not just because I did it, but because I didn’t ask you first, ask you so that you could say ‘no,’ ask you so that you could be reported to the Credit Bureau on Monday? Really?”
Willow spun, glaring. “Yes, really! They were my loans, Keegan. I signed for them and I was responsible for them. You interfered in my personal business without even talking with me. I had the right to say ‘no.’”
“And, you would have said ‘no.’”
“Yes, I would’ve said no.”
“And, why is that?”
“Because my bills aren’t your problem.”
“And, why is that?”
“Because a person is responsible for their own bills, Keegan.”
“So, you split fifty-fifty with Charlie?”
“No, of course not, we were married.”
“But you lived together before you were married. How about then, did you split fifty-fifty?”
“No, Keegan, we didn’t split fifty-fifty.”
“And, why is that?”
“Because we were an item, and because I was pregnant, and because when a girl is pregnant, the guy pays the bills.”
Keegan’s eyes narrowed. “Interesting. So, if you were pregnant you wouldn’t have a problem with me paying off your loans?”
“Keegan—”
“Answer me.”
“Okay, so I’m not sure why we’re discussing this, but yes, pregnant or not, I’d have a problem with you paying off my loans.”
“And why is that? Is it because what we have is somehow less than what you had with him?”
“No, of course, not.”
Keegan’s eyes locked onto Willow’s. “Then, please, enlighten me.”
Willow swallowed, her gaze dropping to the floor.
“From what you’ve said,” Keegan continued, “Charlie never earned much more than minimum wage. So, how is it that you had no problem with him paying your bills, but you do with me, a surgeon who earns a high end, six-figure income? Is it because I’m a woman?”
Willow bit her lower lip, her eyes glistening.
Keegan’s tone softened. “I have money, plenty of money to take care of us. We have money, Willow. There’s no reason for you to worry about making payments on loans.”
“I wasn’t thinking about us like—”
“Like a couple,” Keegan finished.
“No,” Willow said softly, “at least not when it came to money. I’m sorry I got mad at you.”
“Don’t be,” Keegan responded, kissing her forehead. “I know it’s a whole new world.” She lifted an eyebrow, seizing an opportunity. “So, while we’re on the topic of money,” she continued, “can we revisit your decision to keep your apartment until your lease expires?”
“Because you want to pay it off early?”
“I don’t see any reason not to, do you?”
“I guess not,” Willow responded, her shoulders sagging, ever so slightly.
CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
They sat in silence, holding hands, Keegan reading an article on cutting edge trauma care, and Willow reading her first lesbian romance. Occasionally, one would look over at the other, smiling, but saying nothing. “I didn’t even know this existed,” Willow said, thankful that she’d stumbled across a collection of similar books in the library. “How could I have missed it?”
Keegan removed her glasses. “Had you known it existed, I mean before, would you have read it?”
“I think so,” Willow answered. “Although, I’m not sure I’d have left it laying on the coffee table.”
Keegan laughed. “Progress takes many forms.”
“That it does,” Willow responded, kissing her before turning the page.
“I haven’t read a lesfic novel for some time,” Keegan continued, “but I read quite a few back in the day. In fact, you’ll find a nice collection on the lower shelf of the guest bedroom closet. They’re yours if you want them.”
“Oh, I do,” Willow re
sponded, her eyes widening as she read the next paragraph. “Oh my—”
Keegan chuckled. “I just have a couple more pages. Then, you can tell me about it.”
“I’ll mark the place,” Willow answered, blushing, “and you can read it for yourself.”
Keegan put on her glasses, smiling as her attention returned to her journal.
“Aww, how sweet,” Willow cooed, “she’s taking her home to meet her family.”
With a soft breath, Keegan looked up, laying her glasses on the coffee table. “That’s what I’m doing in a few days,” she responded, her eyes sparkling.
Willow took a long drink of iced tea, her face clouding with uneasiness. “I know. I hope your dad likes me at least a little this time. Oh God, and your mom too.”
“They will,” Keegan responded, kissing her. “You’re beautiful, smart, and witty. What’s not to like?”
“Oh, I don’t know,” Willow said, “maybe that I’m a woman?”
“I’ve never hidden my sexuality,” Keegan responded. “And, through the years, my parents have come to terms with it. I think they may have even gotten to the place where they hoped that I’d find someone.” She shook her head, smiling. “Although, when I bring you home, I’m pretty sure it’ll blow their minds.”
“Why’s that?”
“Because other than you,” Keegan answered, “in twenty-six years, they’ve never met one of my girlfriends.”
“Never?”
“Never.”
“So, are you gonna tell them that it’s me?”
“You bet I am,” Keegan answered. “I’ve been looking forward to this occasion for twenty-six years.”
Willow bit her lower lip.
Keegan palmed her cheek. “Don’t worry, they’re gonna love you.”
“Until they find out that I’m unemployed,” Willow responded, “just sitting back letting you take care of me.”
“Oh, good grief, here we go again,” Keegan said, frustration slipping into her tone. “Trust me, the fact that I pay our bills will go completely unnoticed. Because to them it’s the norm. I’ve been supplementing their income since I was a resident.” She tipped her chin down, looking at her. “And, if they do happen to pick up on the fact that I’m the sole wage earner in our family, they’ll realize what you don’t, that you pull your weight by taking care of me and our home.” She slipped her arm around her, holding her close. “I hate that this troubles you, but I can’t see anything to do other than to keep telling you that I’m happy to support us.”
“There’s nothing you can do. I’ll feel better when I find a job, when I can contribute at least something.”
“I know, baby. Hopefully, soon.”
“Yeah, hopefully soon. So far, the only call has been for a situation that wouldn’t work out, but maybe one of the new applications will turn out to be something.”
“You got a call? Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I started to once—”
“But then you chose not to?”
“No reason to get us both worked up. Not when I knew I was gonna turn down the offer.”
“Worked up? Turn down the offer? They made you a job offer?”
Willow pursed her lips, nodding.
Keegan cocked her head, making firm eye contact. “I think you need to start talking.”
“So, you don’t need to worry,” Willow began, “because I turned it down.”
“I got that part. Who offered you a job?”
“Afton Memorial,” Willow sighed. “Wouldn’t you know that the one place that’s not an option would be the one to call me?”
Keegan’s eyes widened. “Afton Memorial? Afton Memorial Hospital in Utah called you?”
Willow nodded. “I applied for a community coordinator position that day I thought you were with Naomi.”
Keegan held her breath, staring into the kitchen.
“Please don’t be mad,” Willow begged. “I applied and then just forgot about it until they called. Don’t worry, I turned it down. I would never leave you to go to Utah or anywhere else.”
“But you loved Afton Memorial. And, you loved that little town.”
“Well, yeah, but not as much as I love you.”
Keegan opened her laptop, pulling up the position on the hospital website. “God, you probably turned down your dream job. It’s got everything you’ve been talking about.”
“Maybe. But it doesn’t matter. Perfect job or not, I’m not leaving you to go there.”
Keegan raised an eyebrow. “Who said anything about leaving me?”
“What? What are you talking about?”
“When did they call?”
“A couple days ago.”
“Call them back,” Keegan said, handing Willow her phone. “See if the job is still available.”
“So, what are you saying?” Willow responded. “Are you telling me you’d move to Utah?”
“If that’s the job you want, that’s exactly what I’m telling you.”
“And, I appreciate your willingness to do that,” Willow answered, “but it doesn’t make sense. We’d be nuts to have you give up your big job so that I could accept a little one. I’d probably earn, what, three percent of what you earn?”
Keegan checked a page on the website. “Probably be more like five percent. But this isn’t about money, it’s about doing what you love, it’s about job satisfaction.”
“Keegan—”
“It’s not just for you,” Keegan said, her voice lowering, “it’s for me too. It felt good to love medicine again, something I haven’t done since the day we got back. It felt good to do surgery without feeling anxious. And, it felt good to sleep at least some nights without nightmares.”
“I have to admit that you did seem better in Utah,” Willow responded. “And, as long as the move is for both of us, I’m all for it.” Her eyes narrowed. “Okay, so, I have no doubt they’d hire you, but can they afford you?”
“Not at my current salary,” Keegan answered, “but they could probably pay between two and three hundred thousand. The thing is, regardless of the amount we end up with in my contract, we’d have enough. If there’s one thing that having money has taught me, it’s that it’s worth nothing if you’re not happy. Call them back. Let’s see if the job’s still available, see if what we’re thinking is even an option.”
“HR won’t be open at this time of night.”
“I could call Hyrum at home.”
“If you want to, that’s fine.”
“So, when I talk with him, I need to make sure that they know what they’re getting.”
“As in a lesbian couple? Trust me, they’ll be fine with it.”
“I hope you’re right,” Keegan answered, dialing. “Hyrum. It’s Keegan Wade. Have I caught you at a bad time?” She explained her reason for calling, stepping off as she assured that he understood that they were a lesbian couple. A half hour later, she rejoined Willow on the sofa.
Willow dog-eared a corner. “So, what’d you find out?”
“That the job’s still available. And, that I made his evening by calling.” She grinned ear to ear. “He asked when we could start.”
Willow’s eyes widened. “So, what’d you tell him?”
“That we’d discuss it over the next few days and give him a call. I took the liberty of negotiating where you’d start on the salary schedule.”
“That’s fine, I have no doubt you came away with better than step one.”
“How does step ten sound?” Keegan asked, wiggling her eyebrows.
“Like you took him to the cleaners,” Willow responded, chuckling. “I hope you did as well for yourself.”
Keegan winked. “I did alright.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
Willow rolled down her window, inhaling a breath of salty Alabama air. Lying on the Mississippi Sound, Keegan’s hometown was steeped in seafood and southern tradition. “What a charming community,” she said, taking in as much as she could with each glanc
e.
“It is,” Keegan responded, her tone becoming nostalgic. “Always has been.” She lifted her foot off the accelerator, pointing toward the harbor. “Right over there is where my grandpa kept his boat.” Her finger moved to point out a craft on the horizon. “And right out there’s a boat just like the one he had when I was a kid.” She smiled softly. “He had two full time deckhands, shrimpers just like him their whole life.” She turned, looking over her sunglasses, her southern accent rich and full, having lost all trace of New York City. “I don’t know how much you know about shrimp boats,” she continued, “but they’ve got this large circular net on both sides. When he took me out with him, I’d work the sorting table.” She shook her head, chuckling quietly. “I remember this one time when a stingray got me. Man did that hurt like hell. After that, I made sure to get all of those little suckers off the table and back into the water before I grabbed for a shrimp.”
“I’ll bet you did,” Willow responded, chuckling with her. It was good to see her slow down, relax, and tell stories. Hopefully, it’d be that way in Utah. “Wonderful memories, huh?”
“Yeah, with him, they were,” Keegan said, her gaze drifting to the Gulf. “To this day I can’t eat a shrimp without thinking about being a shrimper’s granddaughter.”
“And, you probably always will,” Willow said softly.
Keegan nodded. “Funny, how things turn out.”
Willow tilted her head, waiting for her to finish her thought.
“My dad was a ship builder,” Keegan went on. “And, you’d think, at least once in a while, I’d think about being a ship builder’s daughter, if only when I’m around boats, but I don’t.”
Willow smiled. That’s because your dad was a jerk.
Keegan sped up, leaving the area that surrounded the harbor. “Okay, so, our hotel is about forty-five minutes down the road—”
Willow breathed a sigh of relief. “We’re not staying in town? I just assumed we might stay with—”
“With my parents? Good God, no, not a chance. We’ll stop by to see them tomorrow afternoon.” Keegan gave her a slow wink. “After we go see our wildlife amusement park.”