Drawing the Line

by KD Williamson

  “Thank you,” Rebecca said in return. Then, one by one, everyone else came to her, offering condolences. Those who were known to her attempted additional contact, a hug, but she stiffened her body and rebuffed them without a word.

  When they were alone, Rick stepped closer again. “You okay?”

  Rebecca glanced at him and nodded. She moved forward, grabbed a handful of dirt, and sprinkled it on top of the now lowered coffin.

  “I need to hear you say it.”

  She clapped her hands together to get rid of excess soil. “Yeah.” Her voice was thick, hoarse from disuse. Rebecca cleared her throat. “Yeah, I’ll be fine.”

  Rick tilted his head and eyed her for a few more seconds. “Okay. Good. Now, I know you haven’t eaten. Let me treat you to breakfast.”

  Rebecca walked toward her car. The older, dark-blue Toyota Camry stood out next to the nicer cars pulling away. “You paid last time I was here, and I make more than you.”

  Falling in step beside her, Rick snorted. “That won’t be forever.”

  She grunted.

  “Home Grown?”

  Rebecca actually started to salivate. No true Southerner could turn down homemade biscuits, especially with gravy slathered all over them. “Mm-hm.”

  “I’ll meet you there and save a spot if I get there before you. Counter or table?”

  “Table,” she answered.

  “Got it.”

  Trying to find somewhere to park, Rebecca circled the block. Just as a spot opened up, the car in front of her zoomed into it. “Fuckin’ asshole!” She slowed down and glared at the guy getting out of the car. He paid her no attention whatsoever. That just made her grumble more.

  Her phone dinged. When she stopped at a red light, she picked it up.

  Just got here. Got a booth. It’s in my name.

  Rebecca responded to Rick’s text. K.

  She found a space farther up the street. Rebecca got out and typed her license plate number into the Park Mobile app on her cell, paying for at least a couple hours of parking. Then she walked quickly toward the restaurant. When she entered Home Grown, the hostess smiled.

  “I’m with Rick Turner?”

  The hostess looked down at the table diagram in front of her and then peered back up at her blankly.

  “Really tall, bald, a couple shades darker than me, and good lookin’?”

  The hostess turned around and looked at the sitting customers. She glanced back at Rebecca and raised a brow.

  Rebecca’s lips twitched. She’d just described over half of the people present.

  A man walked up behind the hostess. “Thanks, Jaime.”

  The woman nodded. “Kevin might know who you’re talking about. I can’t read his handwriting.”

  Rebecca scanned the room again as Kevin took the seating chart from her. The place was packed. The sounds of laughter, various conversations, and the smell of fried food made it welcoming. The lobby held quite a few people as well. Rick must have flirted or bribed somebody to get a table so quickly

  “Can I help you?” Kevin asked.

  “Rick Turner?”

  Kevin beamed.

  So, possibly flirted and bribed. The man had no shame.

  “Jaime, can you stay for another minute?”

  She nodded.

  Kevin waved at Rebecca to follow.

  Once she was seated, Kevin turned his focus toward Rick.

  “Can I get you anything else?” His smile was big, bright.

  Rick shook his head. “Nope, but thank you for doin’ this.”

  Kevin’s smile dimmed. “You’re very welcome.”

  Rebecca watched the whole exchange in silence. She pressed her lips together to keep from laughing.

  As Kevin walked away, Rick looked at her and smirked. “So, what took you so long?”

  Rebecca snatched up a menu even though she knew what she wanted. “Someone stole the parkin’ spot I was about to pull into.”

  He chuckled. “You didn’t shoot anybody, did you? Or tell ’em off? For somebody so tiny, you can be scary as hell. That road rage problem you have is so unlady-like.”

  She glared. “I’m not tiny, Bigfoot, and I don’t carry a gun off duty.”

  He snorted. “I got that look enough this mornin’ from Dani. I don’t need it from you too. Thank you.”

  Dani. Hearing that name caused a corresponding twinge in the bottom of Rebecca’s stomach. The feeling used to be closer to a gut punch. It had taken a long time to become something tolerable. “She’s mad at you?”

  “Naw, not really.”

  “Mm.” Rebecca bit the inside of her cheek to keep from asking more. “How is she?” The words slipped out anyway.

  Rick picked up his glass of water and drank from it. Several seconds passed. “I like the new haircut. Fits you. What made you go short?”

  Feeling hot, Rebecca unbuttoned her jacket, shrugged it off, and left it dangling on the back of her chair. She knew what he was doing, trying to divert and protect her. She practically had to pry information out of him at times, even though Dani was really none of her business. Rebecca played along with his subterfuge. “I needed a change.” She brushed her hand across her bangs and then over the back of her neck. She was still getting used to having nothing there. Her remaining hair was soft and close to her scalp in the back and on the sides. “I was tempted to go even shorter and completely natural.”

  “Like Lupita Nyong’o when she started out?”

  “Yeah.”

  He studied her. “Nah. You shoulda lightened the color though. Make those hazel eyes pop. Dani’s had the same hairstyle forever. I think she would look good with shorter hair and maybe go blonde, but she’s still happy with puttin’ it in a ponytail when she needs to.”

  Rebecca smiled. Some things never changed. She had a picture of Dani in her head, and she didn’t want the image of dark, messy, shoulder-length hair and soulful brown eyes to be disturbed. “Maybe you’re in the wrong profession.”

  “I pride myself on knowin’ these things.”

  She wasn’t going to agree or disagree. “Rick?” Rebecca swallowed.

  “Hmm?”

  The waiter showed up. “Good morning, I’m Andy. Can I start you guys off with something to drink?”

  “Coke with extra ice, and I’ll have the biscuits. Heavy on the sausage gravy.”

  “Orange juice, no pulp, and the chicken biscuit with home fries.” Rick smiled at the waiter.

  Orange juice would have been better for her, but she needed a fix. Besides, Coke went with everything. When they were alone again, Rebecca continued. “So, she’s with somebody? It’s been four years. I’m not gonna go all to pieces if she is.” Rebecca had been far from celibate, herself.

  Rick leaned back in his chair and sighed. “Then why do you ask? I was just tryin’—”

  “I know and it was sweet at first, but—”

  He held up a hand. “Okay, I get it. She’s doin’ okay. Still spreadin’ herself too thin.”

  “Mmm.” He didn’t answer her directly, but even that was telling.

  Rick had been Switzerland after the break up and still vacationed there when necessary. No way their friendship would have survived otherwise.

  “She hasn’t changed all that much. You, on the other hand…” Rick didn’t finish. He didn’t have to.

  “That’s a good thing.” The sudden dryness in her throat made her reach for his water and take a sip. Apparently, Andy had forgotten to bring hers. “I know you didn’t tell her about Aunt Felicia, but you’d think she’d have seen it on Facebook or something.” She was fishing. Not the smartest thing to do, but she couldn’t take it back now.

  “Dani’s not into all that. She doesn’t even have a Facebook account.” He took his glass back. “Just keepin’ it real. She would
n’t have come anyway. She didn’t really know her, and even after all this time, I can’t see her wantin’ to be around you.”

  The waiter set their drinks in front of them. Rebecca unwrapped her straw and stuck it into the tall glass of Coke. She probably deserved everything he said. Only the ass end of the bait she was trying to hook him with remained, and the twinge in her stomach returned. “Yeah.”

  Rick didn’t say anything for several minutes, and for that Rebecca was grateful. Needing the jolt of caffeine, she sucked up every drop of her Coke while he played on his phone.

  Finally, he looked up. “So, how long are you stayin’?”

  She sucked in a breath. “She left me the house. Such as it is. Since she refused treatment, there aren’t a lot of bills.”

  “Still, you gonna sell it?”

  Their waiter made another appearance, easing plates in front of them.

  Rick didn’t look down at his. He kept his gaze on her.

  Rebecca picked up the pepper and shook out as much as possible on top of the gravy-laden biscuits. She glanced up and set the shaker back on the table. “No, I’m stayin’.”

  His eyes widened, and a slow smile took over his face. “You’re lyin’.”

  “I didn’t wanna say anythin’ until I knew I had a job. Earlier this week, I interviewed for a spot in the Juvenile Missing Persons Unit at the Atlanta Police Department. My captain heard from on high that it’s pretty much a done deal. I should get a call by next week.”

  “Well, goddamn!” Rick continued to grin.

  “I know, right? Lucky.”

  “What made you wanna come back?”

  His question had so many answers, big ones and small ones. Maybe big was the way to go. “Once I figured out that bein’ a cop was what I wanted, I went after it. I kept my head down, and did everythin’ I was supposed to. Havin’ that kind of focus got me places at the police academy and afterwards. I was willin’ to do and go wherever they wanted me. When I got my detective shield, the only openin’ was in the Missin’ Persons Unit. I haven’t been doin’ it long, but it turns out that it’s really my thing. I wanna keep doin’ it. My unit…they’re good people for the most part. I guess.” Rebecca looked down at her plate. “But it’s not home. I know I don’t have much here anymore—”

  “Stop.”

  Their eyes met.

  “You’ve got plenty.” Rick slid his hand across the table. Palm up.

  Rebecca took it.

  “You just said way more words than usual. You tired?” He smiled crookedly.

  Rebecca bent his fingers backward.

  “Ow! All right. Al—” He started to laugh. “I’m sorry. Bad joke and bad timin’.”

  “Mmm.”

  “I’m serious.” He squeezed her hand.

  “Sometimes, I can’t believe I ever found you attractive.”

  Rick cringed. “I still remember that party. Didn’t have a chance to go to a lot of them durin’ med school, but it was lit. I’m so glad I was too drunk to hook up with you.”

  “Me too.” When he’d had the time, they started to hang out instead, and finally Rick introduced her to his best friend.

  “But for real. I’m glad you’re stayin’.” He licked his lips. “But you know you bein’ here isn’t gonna go down well, right?”

  “You said she hasn’t asked about me in a while.” It did something to her to know that Dani was possibly still affected by her after all this time. Rebecca reveled in the warmth that wound its way inside.

  “She hasn’t, but it was easier to be a friend to both of you when you were in Savannah, four hours away.” Rick rubbed a hand over the top of his head. “She knows we talk, but I’m not sure why I’ve lied to her all this time about visitin’ you there or us hangin’ out when you were in town.”

  “I think you just answered your own question. Because it was easy.”

  “Maybe. Atlanta might be big, but I don’t think it’s a good idea to keep hidin’ stuff from her, especially this.” Rick wagged his finger between them.

  “Yeah, I agree. Since I’m movin’ back, it might be best to get everythin’ out in the open.”

  He exhaled, making his shoulders sag a bit. “I should probably tell her.”

  Rick didn’t sound all that enthusiastic about it, but given his position, Rebecca couldn’t blame him. The temptation to put the whole situation in his hands was almost irresistible.

  She shook her head. “No, I’ll do it when I’m ready.” A cold trickle of trepidation slipped its way down Rebecca’s spine at the prospect. “She’s gonna be pissed enough at you as it is.”

  “I know.” Rick looked down at his plate. He picked up the fork and pushed the food around.

  “She’ll forgive you though,” Rebecca said. “It’s gonna take a minute or two, but you have to know that she will.” However, Dani would probably just hate her more. Maybe Rebecca was flattering herself. At this point, she wouldn’t blame Dani for not giving a damn about her. All the warmth she’d rolled in a minute ago disappeared in the face of a more plausible reality.

  Rick didn’t say anything. He didn’t look at her either.

  The guilt that stabbed Rebecca came from a dulled blade, which made it hurt worse. She had been complicit in all of this and more.

  She covered Rick’s hand with her own. He squeezed her fingers in return. Rebecca didn’t want to lose him as a friend, but she didn’t want to move back home to live in the dark either.

  Rebecca pulled away and dug into her food. Everything was still warm, but it might as well have been ashes in her mouth.

  Rick’s silverware clattered against his plate. “No, Becca.”

  She met his gaze. He was the only one to use the shortened version of her name in the past four years. He had been the only one allowed to. “No, what?”

  He sat up straighter in his chair. “Look, I’m not tryin’ to be wishy washy, but you just showin’ up out of the blue? That really sound right to you?”

  “She probably won’t see me otherwise.”

  “Probably.” Rick shrugged. “But can you blame her? I need to come clean with her anyway. Might as well tell her everythin’ and deal with the fallout.”

  Rebecca stared at him for a few seconds, trying to adjust to the sudden bout of mental whiplash that left part of her relieved. Fear clung to her as well. She tried to swallow down the lump in her throat with little success. What could she do? This was out of her hands now.

  She nodded.

  As if he’d been holding his breath, he deflated and nodded too.

  Maybe none of this was as bad as it seemed. Maybe Dani really had moved on from everything that happened between them. Maybe they could even be friends.

  There were a whole lot of maybes. At least one of them had to work out.

  Maybe.

  Chapter 3

  With her attention focused on the tablet in her hand, Dani rounded the corner. She flicked to a new page and mumbled to herself. The patient’s labs were old. She had no way to make a comparison and gauge improvement. Other hospital personnel whipped past her. Dani heard her name several times, and she made sure to look up and at least nod in an attempt to be courteous.

  She shouldered the door to Pediatrics open and entered a whole new world. Gone were the boring white walls typical of the rest of Amery University Hospital. In Pediatrics, color existed. Each separate segment of the surrounding walls was unique. She liked it that way. The images reminded her that each child was unique and individual as well.

  A large tree with long twisting branches covered one section, but it wasn’t alone. Butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds filled the empty space around it. A family of squirrels lived midway up the tree and watched them all. Dani saw herself as one of them, a guardian of sorts. Other walls had depictions of princesses, firemen, monster trucks, and SpongeBob, just t
o name a few. She passed them all to get to the nurses station.

  Dani ignored the small group of doctors standing to the side. “Betty?”

  The nurse in question glanced her way and held up a finger as she continued to speak on the phone.

  Dani nodded and waited. Someone bumped into her, nearly sending the tablet in her hand flying. She turned to see who it was. Dani knew the face, but his name just wouldn’t come. Her gaze dropped to his name tag.

  “Sorry, Dr. Russell.”

  Dani forced a smile. “Don’t worry about it, Dr. Norman.”

  He stood tall and chubby. His gaze darted around anxiously.

  “I hate this rotation. I’d rather be in Ortho than here.”

  “Uhm, okay.” Dani took a small step back from him. He seemed a little off kilter, but didn’t all interns? “Well, this isn’t the place for you, then.”

  He shrugged. “My medical school education needs to be well rounded.” His tone lacked luster, as if he were reading from an extremely boring brochure.

  “You don’t like kids?” Dani shifted a little more to the side.

  “God no,” he whispered.

  At least he had the sense to lower his voice.

  “And they don’t like me either,” Dr. Norman hissed.

  They could probably smell his fear. Dani bit the inside of her cheek to keep from smiling. Mostly, she didn’t want him to think they were going to be friends. Yet it didn’t cost her anything to give him free advice. “Then it’s best you let your advisor or someone know.”

  He nodded.

  “Did you need somethin’, Dr. Russell?”

  For today, at least, Betty had impeccable timing. Dani offered Norman a tight smile and turned to Betty. “Yes, the results of Mark’s new blood work aren’t in his medical record. I thought I put a rush on it.”

  Betty glanced in Dr. Norman’s direction, and so did Dani. “He was supposed to stay in the lab and try to butter them up.”

  Dr. Norman’s face reddened. He sputtered. “I’m sorry. I, uh, misunderstood. I did tell them you—”