New Beginnings

by KC Richardson

  In the interest of self-preservation, Jordan only stayed long enough to finish her beer and joke a bit with her teammates before she decided to call it a night. Unable to help herself, she cast one more glance in Kirsten’s direction before she left.

  “I’m outta here, girls. I’ll see you next week.”

  *

  Kirsten sat at the table with Brenda and some of her teammates, but her attention to the conversation wavered when she heard Jordan’s deep laughter. It was a sound so full of joy, it was infectious and made her heart swell and ache a little at the same time.

  She kept glancing over to the table where Jordan sat, and when she saw Jordan smile, it stirred a feeling deep in the pit of her stomach that had been absent for far too long. She couldn’t help sneaking peeks across the room and wondering what Jordan found so funny.

  When she saw Jordan stand and say good-bye to her teammates, her heart flipped, and her insides sort of fluttered. She found herself hoping that Jordan was on her way over to her table. The stab of disappointment she experienced when Jordan walked out the door was overwhelming.

  For the remainder of the evening, she got involved in the conversation and laughter between Brenda and her teammates, but she often found herself thinking of Jordan; of her sexy smile, her gorgeous eyes, of the strength of her hand as it had held hers during their introduction. She secretly smiled to herself as she fleetingly wondered if she would ever see Jordan again.

  Chapter Six

  The orthopedic physical therapy clinic Jordan had worked in since getting licensed five years ago brought a full schedule for her on Monday morning. Jordan perused her charts and discovered it would be a pretty typical day. She had a couple of evaluations to perform and three progress reports on patients that were scheduled to see their respective physicians later in the week. Jordan gathered the chart for her first patient, a thirty-five-year-old man who’d hurt his shoulder while playing golf, and went and greeted him in the waiting room.

  “Good morning, Adam. How’s your shoulder feeling?”

  Adam smiled up at her and stood. Jordan noticed Adam’s dimples for the first time, and they reminded her of Kirsten’s. She seemed to be noticing a lot of things that reminded her of Kirsten. That revelation unnerved her a bit. Since when did she let herself get so distracted at work?

  “It’s feeling great. Well, it’s a little sore. I went to the driving range this weekend to test it out, and other than some muscle soreness, the sharp pain wasn’t there. Of course, I left the driver in the bag and only worked on my short irons and putting.”

  Jordan smiled at that comment. She knew that when someone was finally without the pain they’d come to therapy for, they tended to overdo it and return to their regular activities without starting slow and working up to their previous activity level. That often led to re-injury.

  “I’m proud of you. It must’ve taken some self-control not to take out the driver. It’s important to work your way back slowly, so you don’t re-aggravate the injury.”

  She directed Adam to a treatment table in the gym and started to massage the area surrounding his left shoulder. Following the massage, she worked the joint motions, made some progressions to his exercise program, and instructed her aide, Carrie, to follow Adam in his exercises.

  “I’ll see you before you leave, Adam. If any of the exercises bother you, make sure you tell Carrie, okay?”

  “Thanks, Jordan. I’ll see you later.”

  Jordan returned to her office after she had treated a few patients to catch up on her charting. Thoughts of Kirsten interrupted her, and a familiar tingle blossomed in the pit of her stomach. She shook her head as if that would dispel the dark-haired, blue-eyed beauty from her mind. She needed to stop thinking about Kirsten, otherwise she would never get any work done. She picked up her next chart and headed to the waiting room to greet her next patient.

  “Good morning, Clara. C’mon back, and we’ll get you started.”

  The day flowed smoothly with no exacerbations in any of her patients, and the new patient evaluations went without a hitch, but Jordan found herself thinking of Kirsten frequently throughout the day. She berated herself when she started working on one patient’s right shoulder when she should have been working on the left. She was typically extremely focused when she worked on someone, but she couldn’t keep her mind off Kirsten. She needed to get her shit together and focus, damn it.

  Jordan managed to get through the rest of her patients without any more fuckups, finished up her charting and billing, bid good night to her coworkers, and headed home. She walked through the front door of her two-bedroom condo, turned on the lights, and dropped her mail on the dining table before entering the kitchen to take out food for dinner.

  She turned on the stereo before she started the food preparations and felt her body relax as she listened to the smooth sounds of Diana Krall coming through the speakers. She fantasized about slow-dancing with Kirsten as she prepared her dinner. In her mind, they moved together as if they had been dance partners for forever, and Jordan’s hand found its home just above Kirsten’s shapely ass as she led them expertly around the floor. She laughed when she was brought back to reality by the oven timer beeping loudly. She couldn’t believe how crazy this woman had her behaving. Fantasizing about dancing with her? Really? She’d just met her, for Christ’s sake. She plated her dinner of steamed asparagus and baked chicken, poured a glass of beer, and retreated to her living room to eat.

  Despite her best efforts, Jordan’s thoughts drifted right back to Kirsten as though they’d never left. Jordan knew she had never seen a woman more beautiful. Was Kirsten single? Nah, she couldn’t be. A woman like that would never be alone. She thought that Brenda had certainly acted possessive, the way she’d guided Kirsten to the table with one hand on the small of Kirsten’s back like a lover would. Maybe they were lovers. If so, Brenda was a lucky bastard. Not only was Kirsten beautiful, but there was something else about her. She couldn’t quite put her finger on it, but Kirsten had an energy to her, and Jordan couldn’t get her out of her head. It made her feel out of control and wonderful at the same time.

  Jordan’s pulse quickened as new thoughts of Kirsten raced through her mind, and she chastised herself. She needed to get a grip. Kirsten was likely already in a relationship, and there was no sense in dwelling on thoughts of a woman who was unavailable. Besides, even if Kirsten were single, she only ever did one-night stands anyway, and Kirsten didn’t seem like the type of woman who would be fine with a one-night stand. No, she seemed like the type of woman who wanted to be wined and dined and cherished.

  Jordan took her dishes into the kitchen and placed them in the dishwasher before she grabbed her newest lesbian romance novel and headed to bed. Just because she didn’t want a girlfriend didn’t mean she couldn’t appreciate a great romance.

  Chapter Seven

  Kirsten met Brenda at Whiting Ranch—a popular destination for hikers and mountain bikers located in Orange County, California—for what was becoming their weekly hike. They parked their cars in the parking lot and grabbed their day packs before ascending Borrego Trail. It was a cool, breezy morning, perfect for the hikers and mountain bikers to enjoy without overheating, and the oak and sycamore trees along the trail provided a canopy of shade.

  They had decided to hike easy trails that morning since Brenda had a game that night, which Kirsten had said she would attend. She had enjoyed herself immensely the previous week when she had gone. She’d even had a good time hanging out with Brenda’s teammates at the bar afterward. But she’d be lying if she said that was the only reason she’d said she’d go.

  Ever since that night, thoughts of Jordan had flitted across her mind more often than she would care to admit, which both excited and confused her all at once. Memories of Jordan’s deep laughter and the way her whole face had lit up when she’d smiled caused Kirsten’s stomach to flutter. And when she found herself dwelling on the intensity in Jordan’s eyes when they’d met—o
n the way those eyes had bored into her as if they’d been searching her soul—the feelings that were evoked were as powerful as they were puzzling.

  She wasn’t at all sure what to make of any of it, and the inability to tell for certain whether these feelings were real or whether they were somehow a reflection of her failing marriage was weighing heavily on her. At the same time, she couldn’t help wondering if she would ever get to see Jordan again.

  Kirsten and Brenda were careful of the bikers they had to share the trail with and made sure to get in a single file line so a biker could pass as necessary. As they got further along the trail, they spotted a couple of deer through the trees, and Kirsten sighed happily. She loved everything about the wilderness; the fresh air, the wildlife, the sense of peace she had in this uninhabited space. It was all very comforting, and with the emotional turmoil she was experiencing, she could use all the comfort she could get.

  Once they reached the opening of Red Rock Canyon Trail, they decided to continue on since the trail was only a half mile long each way and provided some of the most gorgeous scenery Kirsten had ever seen. They stopped to have a quick snack and some water and took in the wondrous beauty of the red limestone that formed the canyon.

  When they got back to Borrego Trail, Kirsten’s heart rate sped up, and she bit her lower lip as she decided to ask Brenda the question that had been bubbling up inside her all day.

  “Um, Brenda? What do you know about Jordan?”

  “What do you mean?” Brenda sounded surprised.

  “I mean, what does she do for a living? How long has she been playing basketball? Does she have a girlfriend? You know, those kinds of things.”

  Brenda eyed her suspiciously. “Why do you want to know?”

  “I can’t explain it, but I feel like I know her somehow, and I was wondering if we would frequent the same spots.” As soon as the words were out of her mouth, Kirsten wished she could call them back, so she could attempt to come up with something more believable. And why the hell would she ask if Jordan had a girlfriend? Why would that even matter?

  Brenda laughed. “Unless you’ve been secretly hanging out in gay bars, I hardly think you would have run into her socially. Like I told you last week, I don’t know her that well. But I’ve heard she doesn’t have a girlfriend. She’s not into that.”

  Kirsten was inexplicably disappointed at that, but she wasn’t sure why. “But I thought she was a lesbian.”

  Brenda chuckled. “Oh, she’s a lesbian, all right. But she has flings. She doesn’t like to get tied down, I guess. Now, keep in mind, this is just what I hear. I have a few friends who have slept with her and say it’s only for a night. There has never been a second date. But they’ve also said it was the best sex they’ve ever had.” Brenda shook her hand like it was burning, and she was trying to put out the fire. “I remember them mentioning words like ‘moaning and screaming.’”

  Moaning and screaming? What the—Kirsten felt light-headed, and before she knew it, she’d crashed to the ground.

  “Oh, shit, Kirsten. Are you okay? What happened?”

  “I twisted my knee. Damn, that hurts.” Kirsten inspected it and noticed it felt sore on the inside of the knee. She also had some scrapes on her kneecap and shins. “Give me a hand up, will you?”

  “Just try to take it easy. Don’t put too much weight on it.”

  “I think I’m okay. Just help me up, please.”

  Brenda squatted next to her, and Kirsten threw her right arm around her shoulders. They stood at the same time, and Kirsten tried to put more weight onto her right leg, but a sharp, searing pain shot through her knee, and she let out a cry instead.

  Brenda wrapped one arm around her waist. “It’s okay, just lean on me. We only have about a hundred yards back to the parking lot. We’ll take it nice and slow.”

  They finally arrived at Brenda’s car, and Brenda helped her in. “What am I going to do with my car?”

  “When we get to your house, I’ll take John back to get it. It will be fine.”

  “He’s not home today. He’s at the office working on his case.”

  “Give him a call and see if he can take a break. It will only take about an hour.”

  Kirsten pulled out her cell phone and called her husband. When he picked up, Kirsten tried not to cry, but it was hard. She felt embarrassed for being so clumsy. “Hi, John. I fell and hurt my knee while hiking with Brenda, and she’s driving me home. Can you meet us at the house, so she can take you back to get my car?”

  John let out a long breath. “Damn, Kirsten. I’m really busy right now, and I have some associates here with me helping with the case. Can we get it later?”

  Kirsten was hurt that John didn’t seem too concerned about her injury and that his work was more important than she was. “The park closes at seven tonight, and Brenda has a game. Please? It will only take an hour.”

  John hesitated a long moment. “Fine, I’ll meet you at the house.”

  The disconnection of the call spoke volumes to Kirsten. A flush crept across her cheeks, and she dropped her head. She mumbled, “He’ll meet us at the house.”

  “What did he say?”

  “He didn’t even ask how I was. He just said this was cutting into his work.” Tears started to well in her eyes as she began to fully realize just how much trouble her marriage was in. She covered her face with her hands as she cried silently.

  Brenda placed a hand on her shoulder and didn’t say another word until they pulled into the driveway. She came around to Kirsten’s side and helped her into the house and up the stairs to her bedroom.

  Kirsten got on the bed while Brenda ran downstairs to get an ice pack. When she came back into the room, she wrapped the ice pack around Kirsten’s knee and went to the bathroom to gather some peroxide and bandages. She sat next to her and cleaned the scrapes as Kirsten winced in pain.

  Brenda applied some antibiotic ointment and placed Band-Aids over the wounds. Kirsten couldn’t help noticing that she’d received more comfort and care from her best friend than from her husband, and that thought disturbed her greatly. Spouses were supposed to be each other’s number one priority, but Kirsten felt like she was way down on the list of John’s concerns.

  She heard the front door open. “John?”

  He came into the bedroom, and his eyes dropped to her bandaged-and-iced knee. “What happened?”

  “I told you, I fell and hurt my knee.” Kirsten was both furious and sad that he seemed so unconcerned. New tears welled up in her eyes, and she looked away. She felt so vulnerable, but she didn’t trust him enough at that moment to let him see her cry.

  “C’mon, John,” Brenda said after a long, uncomfortable moment. “Let’s go get her car so I can get ready for my game. I’ll call you later,” she said to Kirsten as she bent over and kissed her forehead.

  John followed Brenda out, and Kirsten allowed the tears she’d been trying to keep at bay to fall. She wondered exactly when things had started to go wrong between them. When had John stopped being so attentive? She knew he’d been working hard, but hell, so had she. Was it too much to ask to spend some time together on the weekends and have some fun, to act like a married couple?

  When they’d been dating, John had made sure Kirsten knew she was wanted and desired, and he’d made sure she still felt that way through the first two years of their marriage. Then, he’d started growing distant; spending more time at the office, even on the weekends when that time was meant for them. Even sex had seemed hurried in the past year; there’d hardly been any foreplay, and John had usually climaxed before she had, which had left her having to finish on her own. At least until a few months ago, when the sex had ceased altogether.

  Kirsten absently played with her icepack as she tried to recall the most recent instance when she and John had spent any quality time together. After a while, she had to admit that she honestly couldn’t remember the last time they had gone out to dinner, or on a hike, or even to the movies. She didn’t
think it was too much to ask for to go on a date with her husband every once in a while. She didn’t need him to spend all of his free time with her, but occasionally would be nice.

  Kirsten was so deep in thought that when John opened the bedroom door, she was a little startled. She knew her eyes were red, and she turned away when he walked into the room. He sat on the side of the bed and placed his hand over hers.

  “Why are you crying, Kirsten? Is it because you’re in pain?”

  She sucked in a harsh breath and had to force herself not to snap at him. “No. Well, yes, but not because of the physical pain. You hurt my feelings today. Your work was more important to you than I was.”

  “That’s not true. I didn’t realize how hurt you were, that’s all. I’m sorry you thought that, but I promise that isn’t the case.” John glanced at his watch and winced. “I do have to get back, though. Can I get you anything before I leave?”

  Kirsten bit her lip to physically rein in the sharp words that bubbled up inside her and shook her head as she looked away. The disappointment she felt at being less important than John’s work left a sizeable lump in her throat. Just as Brenda had, John kissed her forehead before leaving. But instead of feeling the concern like she had with Brenda, she only felt the distance between them growing.

  Chapter Eight

  Jordan arrived at work on Wednesday morning, looked over her schedule, and saw that she had two new evaluations, one of which was scheduled during the last appointment of the night. She sighed as it dawned on her that meant she’d likely have to stay at work later than normal to complete her charting and dictation.

  Jordan was taken aback by her uncharacteristic annoyance. She had felt out of sorts since Saturday night, and she scolded herself silently for acting like such a fool. She had no idea why the disappointment she’d felt when Brenda had entered the gym alone that night had been so acute. Perhaps because the week had dragged in anticipation of possibly seeing Kirsten at the basketball game.