Love Came Calling

by C. A. Popovich

  Sorry I’m late, but I’m on the way.

  Barb pulled into the lot a few minutes later.

  “Sorry, Kelly.” Barb hopped out of her vehicle and rushed to her car. She settled into the passenger seat and grabbed the bag of food. “Thanks for ordering for me. I’m starved.”

  “Problems today?” Kelly sipped her drink and watched Barb bite into her burger.

  She swallowed before speaking. “It’s been a weird day, for sure. I got a call this morning from a resident on the north side of the island about someone trespassing. I went to check it out, and before I finished with him, I got a call about a trespasser on another property. I finished with that call and received two more from neighboring residents. They were pretty close to Josie’s place, so I’ll stop by and check on her tomorrow. It’s odd to have so many similar calls in one day. We get the usual kids on their ATVs and hunters infringing, but not just someone walking about someone’s property. And with the problems Josie’s been having…well, seems like I should give her a call.” Barb finished her burger and leaned to kiss her. “Sorry. I’m all wound up tonight. How was your day?”

  “Quieter than yours. We’re still waiting for the last few patients to move in, so I was able to leave a little early today. Things will be ramping up next week. We’ll be nearly full, and I have three new nurses starting Monday.” Kelly enjoyed their easy conversation and the feeling of familiarity between them. It was what she wanted in a relationship. Sharing her day with her lover over dinner and sitting in comfortable silence. But something she was having a hard time identifying was missing with Barb. They enjoyed each other’s company, but where was the passion? Why didn’t she long to kiss Barb and hold her throughout the night? To wake up with her and share breakfast in bed? She hadn’t thought of her all day except when she realized the time at Josie’s. Josie. Thoughts of her had drifted through her mind all day. She’d taken a coffee break and wondered what she was doing. At lunchtime, she’d wondered what she and Ruth were eating. The afternoon break had her speculating what Josie was planning for dinner and if they would have a fire in the fireplace. She started, realizing Barb had spoken. “Sorry, I drifted for a moment. What did you say?”

  “I asked if you wanted anything else to eat or drink.”

  “Oh. No, thank you. I’m good. Are you getting anything more?” Kelly stuffed their empty cups into the empty bags.

  “No. I’m sorry to cut our evening short, but I actually have to get back to my office tonight to file reports and try to make some sense of today’s events.”

  Kelly leaned over and kissed her, hard, willing herself to feel more than a dull spark. She laced her fingers through her hair and pulled her closer while exploring her mouth with her tongue. Barb responded by tugging her shirt out of her pants and cupping her breast through her bra. Her nipples tightened and her pussy clenched, but her thoughts drifted. She slowly pulled away and stroked Barb’s cheek.

  Barb sat back and gathered her in her arms. “Whew. I’ll have a hard time working after this.” She kissed her and exited the vehicle. With a quick wave, she was gone.

  Kelly took the long route back to her apartment. She sat in her car for a few minutes trying to sort out her feelings. Her final thought as she entered her kitchen was that Barb was special, but the woman she wanted was Josie, which meant Barb wasn’t special enough. She tossed her keys on the counter and plopped onto her bed. She grappled with her feelings for sweet, romantic Barb compared to intense, caring, gentle, unavailable Josie. She gazed at her dream catcher hanging above her bed and willed it to bring her resolutions in her dreams.

  Chapter Twenty-one

  I hope you got my message. I’m looking forward to our meetin’ and finally claiming what’s mine. I don’t have any idea why you ended up with the place. Jack never said nuthin’ about having a lesbo daughter. It would be in your best interest to make sure the deed is ready to hand over. I hope you’ll be smart about this.

  Josie carefully put the letter in the safe and locked it. Why in the world does this guy want this place? And how does he sneak around here without being seen? Questions swirled in Josie’s mind, so she went to talk to Nooko to look for answers.

  “I don’t know, Joslyn. Harold never said anything about knowing a Bernstein.”

  “Yeah. Dad never did either. Abe told me when he came in February he’d hunted with him. Even though he called him Jack. I know Dad went hunting often with a couple of his buddies, but he never told me their names. Did he ever say anything to you about any of his friends?”

  “As you know, after your mom died he withdrew, and we had little contact with him. I do remember him mentioning his hunting trips, but he never said who he went with. Sorry, dear.”

  “I remember the list of chores he left for me on the days he was gone, but he never told me who he was with either. I looked at all the papers in his desk, and nothing had the name Abe Bernstein on it. Or anyone else’s name, for that matter. I guess I’ll have to wait until next week and see what Abe offers. His letters are just scary enough to worry me, but not threatening enough for the police to do anything. Barb is searching for his driver’s license picture. That way they’ll at least be able to recognize him.”

  “That’s a good idea, dear.”

  Josie pushed aside her worries to concentrate on Nooko’s exercises. “Let’s do some work in the tub. Caitlin told me you were doing great and to keep up the good work.”

  They finished doing the therapist’s suggested movements and settled in the lodge before dinner. “Thank you for helping me, honey. I feel stronger since we’ve been doing those workouts. I might be able to get rid of my cane.” Nooko looked so hopeful that Josie nodded and smiled.

  “How does pizza sound for dinner?” Josie asked.

  “Great. Is Kelly coming over?”

  Josie took a deep breath, choosing her words carefully. She knew her grandmother was holding out hopes for something more between them, but that wasn’t to happen. “Kelly’s working, Nooko. She’ll be here for lunch on Tuesday, but I don’t think we’re on her way home, so she might not come by anymore.”

  “Oh, she will.” Nooko patted her hand and spoke with such conviction, Josie allowed herself to believe it would happen.

  “Well, she won’t be here today, so I’m going to put the pizza in the oven.”

  * * *

  Josie attached the final two eagle feathers on the lodge’s dream catcher before holding it up to review the finished product. The multicolored beads reflected the light from the setting sun, casting shimmering lines of colored beams across the floor. She rethought her original intention of hanging it above the fireplace. It would be perfect in a window. She carefully situated it in a drawer and went to finish her evening walk about the grounds.

  Barb’s vehicle pulled up just as she reached her office door.

  “Hey, Josie. I left a message on your voice mail I was coming over. I wanted to see how everything was going.”

  “Thanks, Barb. Sorry, I was going to check my messages now. I talked to my grandmother, and neither of us can remember ever hearing of this Abe guy. Is there any way you could do some sort of search or a background check on him?”

  “Yeah. I can go to our main office in Sault Saint Marie tomorrow and do a computer search. They have software to find anything on anybody, assuming they’ve committed some kind of crime or are on the database for some other reason. I’ll print out a few pictures when I look him up so you can verify we’ve got the right guy, assuming anything pops on him. I’ll also run that Secretary of State search for a driver’s license. Maybe we’ll get a hit on that. So, has everything been quiet here otherwise?”

  “It has. Other than his notes, I haven’t had any incidents since the spray painting, and I’m sure it was Abe. I just can’t figure out why he’s pushing so hard to buy my property.”

  “Other than the issues you’ve told me about, have you or any of your guests noticed anyone creeping around the property?”

&
nbsp; “No. But my lights only have a limited range. Why?”

  “It’s weird, but the other day I got several calls from residents on either side of you. They reported seeing someone wandering on their property.”

  “My lights are only close to the buildings. I wouldn’t know if someone was lurking farther away than maybe thirty feet, and he seems to know when I’m not around when he drops off his little love notes. Would you like to walk with me on my rounds now?”

  “I will, thanks. It could be kids looking for private places or potential poachers, but I’ll keep my eye out for you.”

  Josie and Barb followed her usual route through the woods, past the cabins, and back to the lodge. “All is quiet tonight.” Josie didn’t believe the kids or poachers explanation. Abe’s notes convinced her he was most likely behind everything, but she wasn’t sure what she could do about it.

  “I’m glad you’re doing so well with this place, my friend. I know your dad had it mortgaged to the hilt. Congratulations on bringing it around. You’ve made it into a comfortable space.”

  “Thanks, Barb. I can’t imagine doing anything else. I love it.”

  “I have to thank you, too.”

  “For what?”

  “For bringing Kelly into my life. We’ve been seeing each other, and I have to say, I’m smitten.”

  Barb’s faraway look and blissful smile stifled any response. Josie led the way toward the lodge in silence. Her assumption that Kelly’s dinner plans had been a date with Barb were true. The knot in her stomach tightened, and she swallowed hard to relieve the tightness in her throat. She reminded herself again that it was none of her business who Kelly dated.

  “Hi, Ruth. It’s good to see you again.” Barb leaned to hug Nooko.

  “Hi, Barb. Are you here to help us figure out who Abe is?”

  “I’m going to make some inquiries tomorrow. You and Josie just call me if you need anything before we sort this out.”

  “Thank you, dear. We will.”

  “Thanks, Barb. Hopefully, I won’t need to call you before Wednesday.” Josie walked her to the door, coaxing herself to sound cheerful. She wouldn’t let on how the idea of her with Kelly made her want to curl into a ball.

  “I’ll let you know what I find on this guy. Take care.”

  “Ready for some popcorn?” Josie sat next to Nooko after Barb left and rested her arm over her shoulders.

  “You’re worried. I can feel it.” Nooko leaned into her and sighed. “It’ll all work out as the Creator wills, and popcorn sounds good.”

  Josie leaned against the kitchen counter, listening to the popcorn crackling and wondered if her heart might make the same sound if Barb and Kelly became an official item. She tried to push the thoughts away. There wasn’t any point in thinking about what couldn’t be or what could happen. There was only today.

  A couple who’d been playing Scrabble was gone when she returned with two full bowls of popcorn. “I see we’re alone tonight.” She passed Nooko a bowl and took a handful from hers.

  “I miss our first group. They were so friendly.” Nooko spoke between bites. “Have you heard from any of them besides Kelly?”

  “No. I don’t expect to unless they come back to stay someday. It’s sort of the way it works. Not all our guests will be as engaging as they were.”

  “Do you have anyone coming for the Fourth?”

  “No. The July couple canceled, so unless someone calls, we’ll be empty until the snow flies.”

  “I never knew what it was like for your father, being responsible for caring for the place to make sure the lodgers were comfortable. I see it’s quite a bit of work. Have you considered selling to Abe? Maybe he’ll make a big enough offer to make it worth selling.”

  Josie tipped her head back on the couch and considered Nooko’s question. He had said he’d make a hefty offer. “I want to keep it. I’ve finally paid off the high-interest loan Dad took out, and I’m sure I can make a profit. I do need to get rid of this Abe guy, though. I worry he might start messing with my guests.”

  “You keep working as hard as you are, and I know you’ll make it. I’ll bet Barb’ll be able to help get rid of Abe.”

  Nooko squeezed her hand, and Josie wondered who was taking care of whom.

  * * *

  Josie rolled over and checked her clock. Six thirty. She noted the soft glow of the sunrise filtering into her room and the faint scent of bacon cooking. Bacon? She quickly slipped into shorts and a T-shirt before rushing to Nooko’s room. It was empty, the door wide open. The aroma drew her to the kitchen, where Nooko stood over a pan of sizzling bacon with fork in one hand and her cane in the other.

  “Good morning, dear. I thought I’d make breakfast this morning. You can get the bread out for toast if you don’t mind. And would you scramble the eggs for me, please?”

  “No problem. It’s six thirty already. Half the day’s gone.” Josie grinned, pleased to see the smile spread on Nooko’s face.

  “I told you I wanted to help, and I’m grateful for you and Kelly helping me to get stronger, so I’m making breakfast today.” She deftly lifted the strips of bacon out of the pan and onto a plate lined with paper towels. “Now bring me those eggs.”

  They sat at the tiny kitchen table sipping coffee after eating. “I’m glad those exercises are helping. The therapist will be back tomorrow to check on you, remember?”

  “I hope Kelly comes with her.”

  “Yeah, Nooko. Me, too.”

  “Have you given any thought to my suggestion that you and Kelly go out on dates? You’re a grown woman, and I don’t mean to be nosy, but everything I’ve seen about Kelly seems to be wonderful. Is there something about her I don’t know? That you don’t like?”

  “No, Nooko.” Josie opened up, knowing if she was going to trust anyone with her real fears, it could be her grandmother. “I’m afraid. I’m afraid to fall for anyone because I don’t want to go through what Dad did. I couldn’t live through loving someone and losing them.” Josie shuddered as she took a breath. “Can you understand? You saw what Dad went through. He was never the same after Mom died. It’s just too painful to even think about, much less live through.”

  “What about all the amazing years they had together? What about the beautiful child, you, they bore and raised together? The opportunity to share a life and love with someone is the greatest gift the Creator gave us humans. Kelly and her group are the only lesbians I’ve ever met.” Nooko looked pensive. “At least that I know of, and they are an excellent example of love. I could see how much they cared about each other, how tender they were with their partners. What I see is that you and Kelly care about each other. Awful, senseless accidents happen all the time. Do you think those women would give up one minute of time together for something that might happen? It might never happen and they’ll grow old together.” Nooko sighed. “Maybe you could consider that, honey. I love you, and I want to see you happy.”

  Josie choked back tears as she hugged her nooko. She didn’t understand, but that was okay. It was enough to know how deeply she was loved, even if she couldn’t love someone else the same way.

  Chapter Twenty-two

  Kelly finished the last of her daily reports and closed her laptop. “I’m ready to go home for the day.” She spoke to the three nurses standing at their stations recording patient information. She was pleased with the progress they’d made since the facility opened and figured she’d be able to cut her stay short by a full month at the rate they were going. “You all have my cell number if you need anything.” She acknowledged a few waves and mumbled good-byes as she exited the building. She didn’t hesitate when she reached the end of the parking lot and turned toward Harlow’s by the Bay.

  “Hello. Anyone home?” Kelly scanned the empty room. The seat on the couch she’d grown to think of as Ruth’s was empty, as was the rest of the lodge. She checked the hot tub room and noted the wet towels hanging on the racks. She went through the kitchen to the back door and follo
wed the path toward the water’s edge, aware she was technically trespassing. She turned and started back to the lodge when she heard Ruth’s exclamation.

  “I’ve got one!”

  She followed the sound and grinned when Ruth came into view sitting on a folding chair at the end of the dock, dangling a tiny fish on the end of her fishing pole. She watched Josie clap and remove the fish from her line before attaching a night crawler on the hook and tossing it into the water. “I think you two are having fun.”

  They both turned toward her, and her stomach rolled at the welcome in Josie’s eyes.

  Ruth waved her over. “We are. Come join us. Are you staying for dinner?”

  Kelly laughed and worked her way toward them through the bush. “From the looks of what you’re catching, I should’ve brought you dinner.” She sat on the same bench she and Josie had shared on one of the first days she’d been there. It felt like long ago, and at the same time, like only yesterday. “You go ahead and do all the work. I’ll watch from here.” Just as she spoke, Ruth’s pole bent, and she squealed, obviously thrilled.

  “I’ve got another one.” She lifted the rod and reel at the same time as the teeny bluegill flailed until it flipped off the hook. “Oh.” Ruth looked dejected enough to believe she’d lost a forty-pound bluefin tuna.

  “It’s okay, Ruth. Keep trying. You’ll get a keeper.” Kelly watched Ruth lean to Josie and murmur something. Josie smiled and nodded. She put another worm on Ruth’s line and left the dock to join Kelly on the bench.