Secluded Heart

by Graysen Morgen

  “Don’t make excuses for her!” Frankie spoke louder than she meant to. A few people turned their way.

  “I’m not. Trust me, that’s the last fucking thing I want to do.” Chase grabbed the check when the waitress set it down. Frankie tried to snatch it from her, but she was unsuccessful. Chase slipped her Visa into the slot and handed it back to the woman. “Please don’t say anything to her, the last thing I need is other people getting involved.”

  “I know. I just hate to see you get hurt. I’m tired of straight woman trying to break into the lesbian world. All they do is break your heart, then run back to their fucking boyfriends or husbands or whatever they have with a penis.”

  Chase stood up. “I agree.”

  “You know I have to stop and speak to them. Unfortunately, I can‘t let what happened between you two affect my business.”

  “I know. I can handle it. She can’t say anything stupid in front of him anyway.” She followed Frankie as they walked towards Remy’s table.

  “Good evening Remy, Brian.” Frankie shook their hands. “It’s good to see you.”

  “Good to see you too.” Brian said. “Hello again Dr. Leery, how are you?” He asked.

  “Fine thanks. And you?” She gave him her best ‘eat shit’ smile, and then glared at Remy.

  “Hi, it’s nice to see you again.” Remy finally coughed out a couple of words, all the while staring eye to eye with Chase.

  Chase sucked in a breath. “Likewise,” She pretended to smile, as her heart shattered into pieces. She tried not to initiate any further dialogue. Luckily, Frankie redirected the conversation.

  “We’ll let you guys eat, I just wanted to stop and say hi.”

  They said a quick goodbye and smiled. Chase wanted to throw up in the bushes when they made it out to the sidewalk. It’s time to be the bigger person here Leery. You can’t let yourself get like this every time you see them. You know she’s going to be out with him. God damn straight women and their fucking experiments! Her pep talked worked for the time being at least.

  “Hey, when’s the last time you did anything remotely healthy Frankie?” Chase asked.

  “Why? You have that look on your face. The look that I do not like and you know it.” Frankie raised an eyebrow at her best friend as they walked down the sidewalk towards Chase’s convertible.

  Chase wiggled her eyebrows. This was a bad sign and Frankie knew it, she knew this look very well. “What the hell do you want to do? Isn’t it enough that you run on the beach on your days off, if you have any. Now you’re dragging me god only knows where, to do god only knows what.”

  “Oh calm down! You sound like an old goat!” Frankie smacked her.

  “I beg your pardon! I AM NOT OLD!” Chase simply shrugged and pulled the car out into the traffic. She was headed towards the health club next to her condo complex which was on the other end of South Beach.

  ***

  An hour later both women were standing in the middle of the indoor racquetball court covered in sweat. Since Chase had a membership she kept her equipment in her locker. She happened to have a few extra pairs of shorts and tee shirts and another pair of sneakers that Frankie was able to wear. Chase also had a couple of racquets and pairs of glasses. She always called racquetball her ‘release sport’, meaning when she needed to let go of some aggression she’d go smash the little rubber ball against the wall as hard as she possibly could, then get the hell out the way before smacking it again. She usually played alone for that reason. No one in their right mind would enter that room if they wanted to exit alive. She took it easy on Frankie. Although, Frankie had played with her many times over the years that they’d been friends, she always knew when not to go play racquetball with Chase.

  “I’m surprised you haven’t taken my head off by now.” Frankie said as she caught her breath.

  “You’re old, I’m being gentle.” Chase chuckled.

  “You fucker!” Frankie slammed the ball against the wall behind Chase’s head. Chase ducked and spun around to slam it back in the opposite direction.

  Both women continued to pound the hell out of the little blue ball on all four walls. Chase could feel the sweat running down the side of her face and between her shoulder blades. Frankie wasn’t in as good a shape as Chase, but she was holding her own in the battle of who could hit the ball the hardest and be set up and ready for the next shot. Chase stopped keeping score a long time ago. Instead, she just had fun letting out the built up steam between her ears with her best friend.

  12

  Monday morning rolled around quickly. Chase had already been through two meetings and was headed into a Mitral Valve Replacement Surgery when her phone rang. Frankie left her a voice mail saying how bad her body hurt from their vigorous workout, and how she demanded a rematch. Chase smiled and made a mental note to call her and jerk her chain later.

  ***

  Almost a month later February was gone, along with Valentine’s Day and the minimal amount of cold weather that Miami would see for the rest of the year. Chase was boarding a large plane headed to New York City, where she was going for a Cardiothoracic Conference for a week. Definitely not something she was looking forward to. She felt sorry about missing the ‘Spring Art Show’ at Deluca’s Art Gallery. Surely, Frankie would have a hundred ‘you owe me’s’ ready for her by the time she returned.

  After a two hour layover in Atlanta, her plane arrived on time. The car service was waiting outside for her after she picked up her luggage from the baggage claim area. Minutes later she arrived in the middle of the city, in front of the Central Park Hotel. The bell hop, which was dressed like a penguin, helped get her bag from the driver and ushered her inside. Chase smiled politely and checked into her room. When she finally made it to the tenth floor she was surprised to see how nice the room was. She tipped the little penguin guy and shut the door behind him. She could have easily carried her one hanging bag and her wheeled laptop case, but he refused to let her carry her bags, citing it was the hotel’s policy to not allow any guest to carry their own luggage. She shrugged and handed him the handle to the heavy hanging bag on wheels. She refused to give up her laptop case though.

  After a quick potty break, she put her dress jacket back on and adjusted the collar of her canary yellow blouse under her black pants suit. Chase made her way down to the ballroom where the registration booth was located. She didn’t realize there would be close to a thousand surgeons at this conference. Most of the ones that she’d attended in the past had no more than four or five hundred.

  ***

  Gayle and Ping walked into Deluca’s Art Gallery. Frankie spotted them from across the room and shuffled over to greet her friends. Remy watched from the corner of the room. The distinguished blond was nowhere around.

  “Hey guys! Glad you could make it.” Frankie hugged Ping and Gayle.

  “Wouldn’t miss it!” Gayle smiled. “Although, I’m sure Chase is sorry she’s not here.”

  “Yeah, she’s already called me three times today between her meetings.”

  “Man, I wouldn’t want to be in her shoes. I thought my meetings were boring. Who the hell wants to listen to someone talking and showing pictures of blood and guts for a week?”

  “Gross Ping, I think we get the point!” Gayle shook her head.

  Frankie saw Remy keeping a steady eye on the door and watching her friends as they roamed the room looking at various paintings. She was obviously looking for someone. Someone that Frankie knew wouldn’t be there. She wormed her way around talking to different artists and potential buyers until she came up on Remy and Brian.

  “How are you doing?” Frankie asked Remy.

  “Good. I always get so nervous when I’m showing.” Brian put his arm around her shoulders compassionately. Frankie saw the slight flinch in Remy’s body. A very small almost miniscule part of her felt sorry for the young woman.

  “The jitters never leave some people, you simply just learn how to overcome the pressure and hide
the fact that you’re insides are tied in a knot.” She smiled kindly.

  “Remy has a habit of staring at the floor when she’s nervous, luckily she’s been able to forget about it.” Brian said with a grin as he squeezed the tall woman’s shoulders once more, and then dropped his arm.

  “Yes well, I haven’t noticed. Besides, you’re work is amazing. I already have a list of potentials to call Monday morning.”

  “That’s great.” Remy smiled.

  “In fact, if you would excuse us for a minute Brian, I’d like to go over a few names on the list with Remy.”

  “Sure, I’ll go check out the competition.” He teased and kissed her cheek before walking away. Remy seemed to ignore the gesture.

  Frankie stepped closer to Remy’s side. “She’s not coming.” She said meekly. Remy stared at the ground, she tried to find her voice, but Frankie cut her off. “She’s in New York City.” Remy lifted her brown eyes shyly to meet Frankie’s. Frankie noticed a tall blond with big boobs headed her way. Who invited her? She continued her conversation with Remy before the playboy bunny made her way through the crowd.

  “I don’t know what’s going on between you two, and honestly it is my business. You’re one of my biggest clients and she’s my best friend. Now is not the time to discuss this, but I think me and you should have a conversation soon,” Frankie stepped back. “Before she comes home.”

  “Hey Frankie,”

  “Yelena. How are you?” Frankie shook her hand.

  “Good. I heard about the show and decided I’d check it out in hopes that you picked up some talent this year.” She smiled sarcastically.

  Frankie wanted to tell her she wouldn’t know talent if it slapped her across the face. Instead, she smiled and introduced Remy as one of her biggest artists.

  “Yes, I believe I’ve seen her work.” She shrugged. She probably would make a good model if she wasn’t so fake but, Playboy and Hustler seemed to suit her just fine. “Where’s Chase? She never misses a show.”

  “She’s at a conference in New York.”

  “Oh. Too bad, I was hoping to see her. Do tell her I said hey.” She smiled and walked away. Remy looked puzzled. Frankie answered the question before Remy could ask it.

  “She’s Chase’s ex-girlfriend.”

  “Oh.”

  ***

  Chase let a few of the other women doctors talk her into getting a limo and going out on the town for a night in the middle of the week. She donned her best pair of jeans, and a black halter top with black leather ankle boots and a black leather jacket. The other four girls were dressed similar in jeans in nice tops, with leather boots and jackets.

  The white limo drove them to one of the hottest bars in town first. Chase started the evening slow, ordering a light beer.

  By Midnight they’d been to two bars and a night club. They were now headed into one of the biggest clubs in town. One that housed a little bit of everything, gay, straight, men, women, black, white, transgender, it didn’t matter.

  Sahara Centrino, a cardiac surgeon from Chicago with shoulder length black hair and dark eyes, seemed to spend the entire night at Chase’s side.

  “Wanna dance?” Sahara asked as she took Chase’s hand in hers. Chase swore up and down the woman was as straight as an arrow and more than likely drunk.

  Damn it! I’m a straight woman magnet. Chase tried to refuse but they were already on the dance floor. The fast song quickly turned slow and Sahara stepped gently into Chase’s arms. Her body was soft and warm against Chase’s. Her sweet scent tickled Chase’s nose. God damn it! Okay Leery, you can handle this. Chase said to herself as Sahara’s hands ran up the back of her neck and into her short blond hair and she pressed her face against Chase’s cheek. The slow dance began to turn seductive and Chase had no control over the other woman’s actions.

  She finally gave in when Sahara’s soft lips melted against her own. The kiss was delicate at first. Then, Sahara opened her lips allowing Chase’s tongue to probe deeper. Chase wrapped her arms around the tiny woman’s waist and pulled Sahara tightly against her.

  When their slow song ended a faster one began. The two women continued to passionately kiss one another in the center of the dance floor. Chase’s phone vibrated in her pocket, scaring the shit out of her, she jumped and pushed Sahara away from her as she apologized and took off towards the door.

  “This is Dr. Leery.” She answered without looking at the caller ID, hoping she caught the call before it went to her voicemail.

  “Hey, Chase it’s me.” Frankie tried to talk over the background noise. It was obvious Chase was in a bar or a club.

  “Oh hey, hold on a second.” Chase walked a little ways down the sidewalk so she could hear. “Okay, sorry.”

  “Where are you?”

  “Some big nightclub, I’m not sure of the name. A few of the girls in my meeting group wanted to go out so I decided to tag along. Boy am I glad you called. How was the show?”

  “Good. What’s wrong? You sound funny.”

  “Uh…” Chase shook her head. “One of those girls…let me rephrase that, one of those straight girls was all over me on the dance floor. We were practically about to fuck in front of everyone. Your call stopped me.”

  “Holy shit,”

  “I’m glad you called. Sleeping with some strange straight girl is not what I need right now.”

  “Yeah well, it probably beat running into your nemesis tonight.” Frankie said with sarcasm.

  “Really,”

  “Yeah, the show was great. I’ll be swamped next week. But, it was very obvious that one tall, short haired brunette was moping around like a lost puppy watching the door like it was going to swallow her whole.”

  “That bad huh?”

  “Oh yeah. So bad in fact, I had to go tell her you weren’t coming because you were out of town. I figured her tag along would catch on if I didn’t get her refocused.”

  “Wow. What did she say?”

  “Nothing, she looked scared to death. She’s so damn shy. It’s funny, when we’re alone and she’s talking about art you can’t shut her up. But, as soon as the conversation changes she seems lost.”

  “Yeah, she doesn’t talk much around me either unless we’re alone. Even then though, she’s pretty quiet, but I haven’t actually given her much time or room to talk.” Chase said with a hint of a smile that she quickly wiped off.

  “I told her we needed to talk before you came home.”

  “Oh Frankie, you’re going to scare the girl to death.”

  “I’m sick of the cat and mouse game Chase. It’s very evident that she’s in love with you, and you’re doing a damn good job of hiding your feelings from everyone but me. She’s hurt you enough and now it’s affecting my business. You’re my best friend, what happens when you decide not to come to the gallery anymore because she’s there?”

  “Frankie we’ve been best friends for years, do you honestly think I’ll stop going to the shows because of a woman? I love art, and I love going to the shows. No matter what happens or doesn’t happen between me and Remy, I’ll still go to her shows and still buy her paintings if I like them.”

  Frankie laughed. “You’re too rational for your own good Chase Leery.”

  “Thank you. Whoa! Hey…Hey!” Chase waved her arms and whistled.

  “What the hell!” Frankie yelled.

  “Hold on a second.” Chase moved the phone away and slid into the taxi and told the driver the name of her Hotel. ‘Okay, sorry I was flagging down a cab. My bar hopping night is over.”

  “I’m sorry. I’ll let you go so you can go back inside.”

  “No way, I would’ve probably taken that woman back to my room. I hope I don’t run into her tomorrow.”

  “Yikes.”

  “No kidding. I’m so not looking for a one night stand, especially with a straight woman. Ugh!” Chase threw her head against the backseat of the cab.

  “I forgot to mention French Bitch showed up tonight.”
r />   “She did not!” Chase sat up straight.

  “Damn sure did, when I was talking to Remy actually.”

  “Did you introduce them?”

  “Yes. As soon as she was gone I told Remy who she was.”

  “Oh god. Well, I doubt she’ll want to talk to me anyway now.”

  Frankie laughed. “I doubt it. Go get some sleep. I’ll see you in a couple of days.”

  ***

  Chase was glad to be back in Miami. Five days of lectures and presentations, including one she had presented herself, was enough to make the dead roll over. She was tired and cold. Her little silver convertible Mercedes was a sight for sore eyes.

  A half hour later Chase pulled up to her condo, she wanted to kiss the tile in the foyer when she walked in. “It’s wonderful to be home.” She put her suitcase upstairs in her room and changed into shorts and a tee shirt before opening all of the blinds to let the sunlight in.

  As soon as Chase sat on the couch to relax with a cold beer her cell phone rang. “God damn it, I’m home for an hour and someone’s already dying to talk to me.” She grabbed the phone and didn’t recognize the number.

  “This is Dr. Leery.”

  “Hi.” The quiet voice was barely audible.

  “Remy?”

  “Yeah,”

  “What...uh….hi.” Chase wasn’t sure what to say.

  “I know you’re probably still out of town…”

  “No, I got back a little while ago. Are you okay?” She didn’t like the tone in the quiet voice on the other end of the line.

  “Yeah, can we talk?”

  “Uh…sure. Yeah.”

  “Can I come over?” Remy asked.

  “Where’s...uh…” Chase kicked herself for constantly forgetting the man’s name. She never forgot someone’s name, but for some reason she could care less what his name was.