The Quickening

by Yvonne Heidt

  Tiffany’s anger abated. Of course she couldn’t have known. She’d taken so many fists to the face that one more didn’t scare her a bit. She’d lived with the devil for four years.

  Jordan came through the doors. Tiffany jumped to her feet before she ran over to her. “I have something to tell you.”

  Tiffany explained what Beenie’s thoughts had told her. “Go arrest her.”

  “I’m not an officer anymore, Tiff. But I will tell Vince.” She paused. “The nurse told me Shade has staples for the gash in her head, but the scan didn’t show any fractures in her skull. The doctor is going to admit her, but he says only one of you can go see her right now. She needs to rest.”

  Tiffany wanted to be the one to go back, she really did. But she turned to Sunny instead. “You go on in. I’ll wait until they say I can go.”

  “Are you sure?” Sunny asked.

  “Yes. Give her a kiss from me.” Tiffany glanced at Jordan. “Okay, a hug. But tell her I’m here and waiting for permission.”

  “Thank you.”

  Tiffany wished she weren’t so agitated. She could have sent some of that healing back into Sunny. There was no way she was calm enough to help anyone right now.

  “I’m going to find Vince and tell him what you’ve just told me.” Jordan bumped shoulders with Kat. “Take care of her.”

  Tiffany’s adrenaline rush expired and her energy plummeted. She plopped down in the nearest seat with Kat doing the same beside her. She was exhausted and upset Shade was attacked. The psychic readings, late night investigations, and nightmares were taking a heavy toll on her. “You know, it’s been a long couple of days, Kat. You have an agenda, and I would like to know what it is. But please, please, don’t drop it on me right this second. I don’t think I can take it.”

  “Okay,” Kat said, then leaned back in her chair. “I’ll just sit here with you.”

  Tiffany sensed the coiled tension in Kat, belying her laid-back posture. But she couldn’t catch any thoughts or intentions from her. The hospital’s residual energy was too loud. Because she wasn’t having any success, she eventually stopped trying. Her head ached from the sensory overload.

  Tiffany closed her sleepy eyes and let her thoughts take her to her sacred place where she saw herself sitting cross-legged in the grass.

  Only this time, she wasn’t alone.

  She heard laughter, genuine jubilant laughter. It was a welcome noise, and she turned toward it while still in her meditative state.

  Just then a shadow covered the sun. A tunnel of wind nearly knocked her over. The birds fell quiet and a sense of impending danger loomed.

  Tiffany’s eyes flew open. Kat was standing in front of her looking around the emergency room. A blur of movement caught her eye, and she saw a man disappear into the elevator. He didn’t turn, and she didn’t see his face, but the threat from his wake hung in the air.

  The question was how did Kat know it? It didn’t escape her notice that Kat had put herself between Tiffany and the implied threat. She was going to ask why but was interrupted by Jordan’s approach.

  “She’s all tucked in now, room 334, bed A.”

  Tiffany nodded. “How’s she feeling?”

  “You know Shade; she’s tough. She’s already flirting with the nurses.”

  Tiffany grinned. “That’s our girl. When can I see her?”

  “Later tonight. And she insists that we all go home. She’ll call if she needs anything.” Jordan gestured toward the bag containing Shade’s coat. “Give me that.”

  “I hate leaving her here alone.”

  “She’s pretty looped right now. The nurses said they were finally able to give her something for the pain. She’s under close supervision by the staff.”

  “Where’s Sunny?”

  “She’s talking with the head nurse. After that, she’s going to give her insurance information to the administration. She said to send you home and that she’ll call you later.”

  Tiffany couldn’t resist prodding Jordan’s thoughts. She was telling the truth about what was said. Not that she thought Jordan would lie per se, just that she didn’t want to be mollified, as if she couldn’t handle the truth. The following thought was that she realized she’d encouraged just that behavior from her friends over the last four years. Yes, she’d come from a horrendous situation; she had needed time to heal. But she didn’t need to be protected any longer. They didn’t have to shield her from unpleasant information anymore. She could handle it. Well, except for the spiders. Definitely the spiders.

  “Thank you for coming.” she said politely to Kat and walked toward to the sliding exit doors. Kat kept pace beside her.

  “Is there anything I can do?”

  “No, thank you. I’m going home.” Tiffany stood in the middle of the parking lot for thirty seconds before she changed her mind. “Yes. You can come home with me.” Kat smiled and it hitched Tiffany’s breath. “I meant to talk.”

  “You just said—”

  “I know. Please, there’s too much uncertainty swirling around. I need to get grounded, and to do that, I need answers.”

  “Okay,” Kat said. “I’ll follow you.”

  Tiffany felt Kat staring at her while she walked away, then remembered the creepy doom feeling she’d felt at the hospital. How could she have forgotten that? Complacency was dangerous. Apathy could be deadly.

  *

  Kat pulled in behind Tiffany’s car. She was already waiting on the porch for her. The house was a mid-century modern ranch style on a street full of them. The yards were clean and maintained. She liked it. Kat had grown up in a neighborhood much like this, and it reminded her of home.

  Tiffany unlocked a deadbolt, then another. It could be the smallest of details that told Kat about a person. Tiffany didn’t feel safe.

  “Come on in.” Tiffany motioned her forward and then relocked the doors. “I’ll be right back.” She disappeared down the hall to a room on the end.

  Kat stood in the living room and looked around. The house was tidy, but comfortable. It was nothing like her sleek, minimalistic, clean-lined condo. This home was lived in. The furniture looked soft and inviting. Everything from the biscuit color on the walls, to the honey toned hardwood floor, looked warm.

  She walked to the wall lined with shelves. It was full of neat rows of books, charming fairies, geodes and crystals, and dozens of framed pictures. She looked at the photos of Sunny, Shade, and Tiffany, taken at various points of their lives, and a sweet-faced baby grew to a toddler in several more. Angel was beautiful and as aptly named as Sunny. Large cornflower blue eyes stared back at Kat, and she experienced a powerful flash of déjà vu. Recognition flooded her heart with love and sadness simultaneously. It was much the same that Kat had experienced when she saw Tiffany, but with a different intensity. If she doubted the connection even a little before, she was convinced now. Standing here in this energy gave her an overwhelming sense of homecoming.

  A door closed in the back of the house and Tiffany returned. “She’s gorgeous, isn’t she?”

  Kat nodded. “How old is she?”

  “Four, and the light of my life. She’s at the beach with Aura. They’ll be back in a couple of days.”

  “I’m looking forward to meeting her. Jordan talks about her all the time.”

  “We’re very lucky she has three aunties who love her to pieces. Let’s go in the kitchen. I’m hungry.”

  Kat followed mutely. She knew whatever she said next could affect her destiny. One of those monumental moments you looked back on later in life and pointed to with a certainty―convinced it was the one choice you made that changed your path forever. The importance of it nearly paralyzed her.

  “Do want some coffee or tea?” Tiffany asked.

  “Coffee, please.” She didn’t know what to say next. She wanted to see where Tiffany led the conversation. Kat didn’t want to screw up. She wasn’t used to being nervous. How ironic, she thought, that a writer couldn’t find her words. “Where
is the restroom?”

  “Down the hall, second door on the right.”

  Even the bathroom was warm, with earth tone tiles and stone counters. It made Kat’s place look as sterile as a hospital. She splashed cold water on her face and stared in the mirror. She felt odd but didn’t look any different. She combed her hair back with her fingers, tucking strands behind her ears. She needed a haircut.

  When she returned to the kitchen, she saw Tiffany had put a plate for her on the table. A sandwich with the crusts cut off and apple slices. She smiled. “Peanut butter and jelly? Really?”

  “Comfort food,” Tiffany answered. “And I needed some. And don’t be weird about the naked bread. It’s a habit. I always do it for Angel.”

  Kat laughed. “It’s fine. I haven’t had it in years.” She took a bite and relived the taste of childhood. Hot summer afternoons, swimming in the family pool, cicadas singing her to sleep. She’d forgotten how much she’d loved it. She tried to say thank you, but the peanut butter stuck to the roof of her mouth. She was hungrier than she thought, and she nearly inhaled her food.

  Tiffany cleared the table and then poured them each a cup of coffee. “I really should quit drinking this,” she said. “But I secretly enjoy it at home and make tea when I’m working at the office. I don’t think that anyone’s fooled.”

  “I love coffee; it’s an essential food group.”

  “But we’re not here to talk about beverages, are we?”

  Kat’s anxiety began to rise. No one had ever believed her story before, not really. They simply smiled and nodded, placating her fanciful imagination as they saw fit. Still lost on where to start the conversation, she simply shook her head.

  “I want to start with the odd mist that formed when you kissed me, but let’s go further back to when you asked if I remembered you. I got the distinct feeling you were hiding something.”

  Kat studied her expression. Tiffany looked receptive. She remembered her earlier resolve to tell her everything, but now apprehension and the fear of rejection had perspiration forming on her brow and upper lip. “Uh.”

  “See? You’re doing it now.” Tiffany looked exasperated.

  Kat took a breath and tried to convince herself the situation was much like jumping out of a tree when she was a kid. It was always the fear of jumping that was much greater than the actual landing. “Do you believe in reincarnation?”

  “Of course. It would be kind of senseless of me not to.”

  “I’ve dreamt of you.” Kat wanted to reach out for her hand, but stopped herself. “I knew the moment I saw you who you were.”

  A look of sadness crossed Tiffany’s features briefly. “But I didn’t, and don’t, remember you. I’m sorry for that.”

  “Are you absolutely certain?” Kat’s stomach hurt. “I mean, have you done a past life regression? Do you all even do those at SOS?” She hadn’t thought the dismissal would be so quick.

  Tiffany smiled softly. “Yes, and the clients are usually mine. I’ve never done one on myself or asked Aura to.”

  “Why?” Kat was curious and hopeful. If she hadn’t looked at her past, maybe there was still a chance she would remember.

  “I’ve never shared the reason with anyone other than those in my close circle. Are we going to be friends, Kat?”

  If Kat had her way, they would be much more than friends. But she knew Tiffany’s real question was whether she could trust her. “Yes.”

  “Then we’ll come back to that. First, tell me why you think I’m—what’s her name?”

  “Tanna, her name was Tanna.”

  “That’s a beautiful name, but I’m not feeling attached to it.” Tiffany rose from the table to refill her coffee.

  While her back was turned, Kat got up to stand behind her. Tiffany turned slowly. “Please don’t do that. I hate it when people sneak up behind me.”

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make you nervous.” Kat backed her against the counter slowly, and then gently cupped her hands on Tiffany’s cheeks. “Let’s try this again.”

  “I can’t think,” Tiffany said. “I want to talk, but I can’t think with you this close to me.”

  “Then don’t. Let me show you,” Kat whispered. She flicked the tip of her tongue along Tiffany’s lips to part them and followed with soft butterfly kisses. Kat was dizzy with wanting her. When Tiffany drew Kat’s tongue into her mouth, wave after wave of feeling crashed through her, and her knees grew weak. Kat lifted her onto the counter with one swoop, and then put her arms around her, crushing Tiffany against her, lost in the passion they were sharing.

  Tiffany put a hand against her chest and Kat felt a small push. Kat complied reluctantly, breaking the kiss and resting her forehead against hers.

  “My God,” Tiffany said. “I can’t breathe.”

  Kat was having a difficult time herself. Her heart felt as if it were pounding out of her chest. She placed Tiffany’s palm over it. “This is what you do to me.”

  Tiffany gripped her shirt and drew her back in. Kat’s dreams had been amazing, but nothing prepared for the onslaught of the reality of kissing Tiffany. She wanted to peel off her shirt and pants, strip her bare on the counter, and worship every inch of her. But a little voice in her head said it was too soon. She wanted to ignore it but didn’t. Her instincts were rarely wrong.

  Kat brought her hands back to Tiffany’s cheeks, and slowed the kiss gently, until she was breathing softly against Tiffany’s lips for a moment before she held her against her chest. Kat ran her fingers through her hair, then down her back in slow strokes.

  Tiffany’s phone rang and they both startled. “It’s Aura’s ringtone, which means it’s my baby.” She slid off the counter and crossed the room to answer it. “Excuse me,” she said. “I’m going to talk in the other room.”

  Kat used the time to calm down and go into the bathroom. She was a little light-headed and her slacks felt too tight.

  When she returned to the kitchen, Tiffany was sitting at the table. “We have to talk,” she paused. “About what just happened.”

  Kat sat down. “Yes.” Tiffany’s tone was serious.

  “There’s this crazy connection between us.”

  “There is.” Kat almost held her breath, waiting for her continue.

  “I’m relieved that Angel called because it reminded me there isn’t just my desire here to consider. My daughter is my first priority, above all else.”

  “I understand that,” Kat said. “And I wouldn’t expect anything less from you.”

  “There’s so much going through my head right now, Kat. I have so many questions, doubts, and concerns, that I can’t sort them all out yet.”

  “Yet? So you’re not shutting me down.” Kat exhaled slowly.

  Tiffany took her hand across the table. “My reaction to that sizzling kiss, which I loved by the way, took me completely by surprise and knocked me for a loop.”

  Kat was confused. “And that’s a bad thing?”

  “It’s important for me to feel in control. Kat, you have me all off balance, and that scares me.”

  “Why? I’m not going to let you fall.”

  “But I don’t know that, and even if you think you know me, you don’t—not really. You’re convinced that I’m Tanna.”

  Tiny beads of anxiety began to leak into Kat’s confidence when Tiffany took her hand off of hers. “But—”

  “So I’m not sure that passion was meant for me.”

  “I promise you, I have never had a kiss like you just gave me.” Not in any life, Kat thought.

  “I can’t jump into anything,” Tiffany said. “As much as I want to, I’m going to have to take a step back here and slow things down a little. Maybe we did know each other in a past life. But we don’t know each other in this one. So we’ll have to get to know each other before we go further.”

  Kat nodded. “If that’s what you want. I’m not going to push you.” Much.

  Tiffany smiled. “Good, that’s good. I thought you’d be
mad.”

  “Not at all. Right now I’m grateful you didn’t shut me down completely. The look on your face was so serious.”

  “I am going to ask you to leave, but only because I have to go and see Shade. There’s a little crystal shop in the Pike Place Market that I would love to revisit tomorrow. Since I’ll already be in Seattle, we can work the next case from Parker, and save you the trip over to this side of the water.”

  Kat’s blood pressure spiked. “You want to come over?”

  “Yes. Is that okay?”

  “Absolutely, call me when the ferry comes in, and I’ll meet you. I can drive you home later.” Kat wondered if Tiffany had any idea what that innocent look in her eyes was doing to her.

  “It would be nice not to have to worry about parking downtown.”

  “Aren’t you upset that Parker tested you?”

  “Not really. I’m used to dealing with skeptics. Normally, I would dismiss them, but this is important to me. I have to go visit Shade before visiting hours are over. We can talk more about this tomorrow. I’ll walk you out.”

  Tiffany kissed Kat’s cheek, then stood on the porch and waved.

  Kat’s mind and heart reeled with possibilities. She was exhausted from running the gamut of emotions since she’d arrived. She’d hit everything from elation to panic and then back to hope, and around again. Kat had turned her own orderly, organized world upside down to chase her dreams. She loved it.

  She sincerely hoped she would survive the changes.

  *

  Tiffany crossed the threshold into the small room and stopped. Shade looked pale and lifeless in the hospital bed. No traces of her trademark eyeliner remained, and the colorless tone to her skin made the purple bruises under her eyes much darker, giving her a fragile appearance. Blood seeped through the white bandages on her hair.

  The room itself held traces of pain, emotional stress, and grief. Tiffany attempted to block out leftover energy from previous patients and focus on Shade. When she got it down to a manageable level, she took a steadying breath and walked to the bed.

  Tiffany was deeply unsettled. Shade had always been her rock. Seeing her in this condition broke her heart. She reminded herself of the promise she made to herself to come out from behind Sunny’s and Shade’s shadows and stand tall on her own. Now was the time. This was her first challenge.