by Corman, Ana
“I’m not the enemy, Catherine.”
“I know that, Olivia. But in our stressed-out, agonized minds you’re the only enemy we can see. We can’t see the cancer but we can see the people who put us through so much grief and pain.”
“I’m on your side, Catherine. I pour my energy into fighting this disease with proven methods. I have to have faith in the people who are devoting their lives to finding the answers to questions that haven’t been answered yet. The world is engaged in this fight against cancer. You have to believe in what has been proven by the numbers of successful cases. Your mother is a perfect example of that. I’m just sorry there couldn’t have been more to offer your father.”
“I’m sorry, too. He was an amazing man and an incredible father. His life was wonderful and his death was horrible. What if I’m next, Olivia? Will Western medicine fail me, too?” Before Olivia could answer, Catherine’s cell phone rang. She wiped at her eyes and looked at the display. “My mother’s waiting for me. I have to go.”
As she turned for the stairs, Olivia reached for her arm. “I’m sorry you’re upset, Catherine. I’m just beginning to understand why. If there’s anything I can do for you, any way I can help ease your fear, I wish you’d let me know.”
“These are my issues to deal with. Unfortunately, they just keep rearing their ugly heads. Goodbye, Olivia. Thank you for being so kind to my mother today.”
Four
DANA CAREFULLY REACHED through the bed of pruned rosebushes and pulled out her San Diego Union-Tribune. She slapped it hard against her thigh several times, then stepped back to admire the row of rosebushes running along the deep front porch. They were her pride and joy. She loved gardening and watching things grow. She could plant things with total abandon and the disorder always bred beauty. Bright green shoots had already pushed their way up in the flowerbeds bordering the walkway leading to the house, a sure sign that spring was on its way. Soon they’d be laden with yellow freesias and daylilies, divided by groups of white daffodils and grape hyacinths. The massive jacaranda tree in the front yard would not bloom its gorgeous lavender flowers till June. Dana couldn’t wait for that yearly event.
She remembered the day the previous owners had contacted her to sell this wonderful house. As she’d strolled up the walkway, she knew she had come home. It was a spiritual connection. The location was perfect, just north of Balboa Park. She and Aidan moved in and Catherine was born a year later. Dana loved its old-world charm and mystique. It was a solid brick bungalow built in 1925, with stone pillars and sloped roofs. It had been a financial stretch at the time, as she began her real estate career and Aidan was struggling to get his accounting firm off the ground. But it was worth all the penny-pinching in those early years. They’d chosen to make renovations instead of moving into something bigger when finances were on more solid ground. Dana was so grateful they stayed.
It was getting dusky and Dana felt a slight chill with the cool breeze. It had been overcast and dreary all week but today had been a beautiful bright day in the high sixties. A glorious day for late February in San Diego. Dana tucked the newspaper under her arm, unlocked the front door, and set her mail and paper on the hall table among the stacks of magazines. She needed to tidy up that mess. She could hear Aidan chastising her for her collection of magazines that she could never get rid of. It extended to her stack of cookbooks in the kitchen and scrap-booking supplies in the spare bedroom. Catherine threatened to call the fire department and report her mother as a fire hazard. She shook her head and laughed. One of these days she would make Catherine proud. Thank God her daughter was a neat freak and meticulously organized like her father.
Dana was so grateful to be home. Catherine had dropped her off at the bookstore after they shared a wonderful meal at their favorite Thai restaurant. She’d hoped that Catherine would feel better after talking to Olivia, but it looked like it only made matters worse. She listened to her throughout dinner try to make sense of their interaction. Dana had never seen her daughter so befuddled by a woman before. She hoped she’d feel better after a good night’s sleep. Knowing her daughter, the possibilities were slim. She’d call to check on her before turning in for the night.
She checked that she had no phone messages and set the teakettle to boil. She reached into the antique hutch and pulled out her favorite bone china teacup. She loved the antiques that she and Aidan had collected to fill their home. The memories flooded back where they purchased each piece and how they haggled over prices with the dealers.
The house phone rang. She smiled at the name on the display.
“Hello, Dr. Ruth Ratcliff. How’s your mother?” She removed the teakettle from the stove.
“She’s doing well, considering. She has a brand new hip and she’s resting comfortably.”
Dana walked into the great room and settled into a chocolate suede loveseat. “I’m so glad. I’ve been thinking about both of you all day. I stopped into the church today and lit a candle for her. I also lit a candle to pray that you’ll never abandon me for one of my appointments with you again.”
“That’s one of the reasons I called. I’m so sorry about what happened with Dr. Snyder, Dana.”
“No harm was done. Olivia handled the situation beautifully. It’s good she came in when she did or Catherine might have ripped out his tongue and shoved it back down his throat.”
“Well, in that case I wish Olivia had been delayed a little longer.”
Dana laughed. “As far as I’m concerned, Olivia made everything right again the moment she stepped into the examination room. However, Catherine felt a little differently. I wasn’t sure who she wanted to kill first, Olivia or Dr. Snyder.”
“Olivia told me. She feels really bad about the way things ended today with her and Catherine. She hopes to have a chance to talk to her, once the dust settles.”
Dana crossed her legs and stretched her arm across the back of the couch. “That could be wishful thinking. You should have seen them together, Ruth. There were murderous sparks flying all over the place. It’s amazing we all walked away from that unscathed.”
Ruth laughed. “Do you think there could be something there between Catherine and Olivia?”
“That’s a lovely thought, but I don’t think so. The last person I could imagine Catherine getting involved with would be a surgical oncologist.”
“What a shame. We could each find a partner for someone we love in one little match-making venture.”
Dana smiled. “After what I saw today, that’s highly improbable. How are you, Ruth? You must be exhausted after everything you’ve been through today.”
“I’m tired. I’ll make sure my mom’s settled for the night then I’m heading to her house to get some sleep. It’s been a stressful day for you too. But I wanted to congratulate you on your clean mammogram and breast exam. It’s been five years now, Dana. You can stop taking your Tamoxifen.”
Dana skimmed her fingertips across the seam in the plush suede. “I needed to hear it from you before I felt totally comfortable with it.”
“You have my permission to stop taking your meds. You’ve made it to five years without recurrence, Dana. I’m so happy for you.”
“Thank you. When I dreamed of achieving this milestone I promised myself I’d toss my remaining pills out to sea. Now that the time is here I’m terrified to let them go.”
“I know. It’s like letting go of a trusted friend.”
Dana anchored her foot on the antique black cherry coffee table. “I couldn’t have done it without you, Dr. Ratcliff.”
“I’m thrilled to have been there with you every step of the way, Dana. I’m even more thrilled to be considered a friend. I’d like the opportunity to celebrate your five-year mark with you. I’d also like to find a way to make it up to you for what you went through today.”
“I rather do enjoy dinner with you.”
“Sounds wonderful. It’s a date. I should get going, unfortunately. But I can’t tell you how much hearing your voice has
calmed me.”
“It was great talking to you, Ruth. Can I call you tomorrow to check on both of you?”
“I’d like that.”
“Good night, Ruth. Take care of yourself and your mother. Know that you’re both in my prayers.”
“Thanks, Dana. That means a lot to me. Goodbye, my friend.”
Dana clicked off her phone and held it to her chest. “Goodbye, my friend.”
Five
OLIVIA SLICED THROUGH THE WATER of their indoor lap pool at a breakneck pace. She reached the end and executed a perfect underwater turn and headed in the opposite direction. Olivia saw the feet dangling in the shallow end and slowed her frantic pace. She reached for the edge of the pool beside Echo’s legs and surfaced. She gasped her next breath and pulled her goggles off her face and placed them on the deck. Olivia dunked herself to get the hair out of her eyes and wiped at the water on her face. She swiftly hauled herself out of the pool and sat beside Echo.
Echo handed her a plush pink towel. “You look like a woman hell bent on beating the water into a foam rather than swimming in it.”
Olivia lifted her face from the towel. “It’s been quite a day. Is Zoë asleep?”
“She’s been sound asleep since nine. I was working on my paper about women and heart disease when I heard you come in. I wanted to make sure you were okay.” Echo grabbed a bag of pretzels and held them before Olivia. “Want a pretzel? They always make the world a better place.”
Olivia looked down at the bag before her and laughed. “No thanks, Echo. That’s not going to fix what ails me.”
“What about some of my awesome veggie stir-fry? We were kind enough to save you some. Are you hungry?”
“Sorry I missed dinner, Echo. I’m really not very hungry.”
Echo gasped. “Okay, now I know you had a really bad day. You never lose your appetite.”
Olivia rubbed her weary eyes then gently massaged her own temples. “It’s just one of those days you wish you could do all over again. Especially the lecture.”
“The lecture was great. Even the question from Catherine O’Grady gave the audience something to think about.” Echo looked closely at her friend. “You’re upset about Catherine O’Grady, aren’t you?”
“She didn’t make my day any easier.”
“How do you even know her? Have you been to her bookstore?”
“No. I didn’t know she existed before today. She’s the daughter of one of Ruth’s patients. She bashed me during their appointment today, then did it again at the lecture.”
“You must care about this total stranger, to let her upset you so much.”
Olivia rose to her feet and reached for the white terrycloth robe draped across the lounge chair. “What I care about right now is getting some sleep.” She slipped her arms into the sleeves. “It’s late, Echo. We should get to bed. I can only pray that tomorrow will be a better day.”
Echo slipped out of the water and dried off her legs. Olivia held the French doors open for her and they entered the kitchen. Olivia felt so grateful for this spacious house, the way it welcomed her home from a hard day, the love and support she felt here from Zoe and Echo. The three of them had met in college and lived together ever since, except for the years she and Echo completed their fellowships in different parts of the country.
Echo put away the pretzels and they climbed the stairs together, stopping in the entranceway of Olivia’s wing. Echo touched Olivia’s arm. “I’m sorry you have so much to deal with right now, Olivia. Maybe there’s a message in this clash with you and Catherine O’Grady.”
“The message I’m getting is to run as fast and far as I can.”
Echo laughed. “That was obviously your intent in the pool tonight. Good night, Olivia.”
“Good night, Echo. I’ll see you in the morning.”
Olivia waved as she headed down the long hall to her bedroom. She opened the door, swore, and placed her hand over her racing heart. The gray slacks she’d left draped across her bed haphazardly bounced up and down on the floor like half a human being break-dancing to its own rhythm.
“That’s it. You guys are dead.” Abbott scooted out of the bottom of one leg while Costello dashed out the waist. They looked back at Olivia with their dark beady eyes then raced for the bathroom.
Six
OLIVIA HURRIED DOWN THE STAIRS and Stopped to leave her knapsack in the front foyer. She zipped up her sweatshirt then peered into the huge sun-filled kitchen. The light pine cupboards and marble countertops gave warmth to the spaciousness.
Zoë stood at the island counter in the center of the kitchen. She was dressed in a beautiful white knit blouse and long teal beaded silk skirt that accentuated her girlish beauty and short dark hair. She sipped on a glass of orange juice as she laughed at something at her feet.
Olivia followed a rustling noise to the floor in front of the fridge. She gasped and stepped back as a cereal box flipped at her feet and slid away. Abbott shot from the box and joined Costello in front of the fridge. Costello pulled the magnetic letter L from the door and ran for the cereal box, dropping it inside. Abbott added the letter O, flipped around in the box, then scampered back to retrieve another letter.
Zoë burst into laughter. “Aren’t they precious?”
“Hardly. They’ll be the death of me. I wondered what happened to them when I saw their cage empty this morning.”
“Echo brought them down to let them run around. They’re so adorable.”
“They’re a menace to my state of mind.” Olivia wrapped her arms around Zoe. “Good morning.”
Zoë beamed her beautiful smile. “Good morning, Olivia. How did you sleep?”
Olivia pressed her hand to Zoë’s round tummy. “I could use another couple of hours, but I need a hike even more. How about you?”
“I slept great. Sorry I didn’t wait up for you. I was beat.”
Olivia looked around the kitchen. “Where’s Echo?”
“She got paged several times last night about one of her patients. She had him transferred into the coronary care unit and wanted to head out early to check on him.” She poured Olivia a glass of orange juice. “Sorry things were rough between you and Catherine O’Grady yesterday. She seems like such a sweet person.”
Olivia took a deep drink of her orange juice. “For a sweet person she’s certainly bent and determined to test my spirit.”
Zoë placed a bowl of Special K in front of Olivia and smiled mischievously. “Echo thinks you’re attracted to her.”
“Zoë, I barely know her.”
“You know she’s gay, don’t you?”
Olivia dropped back in her chair. A tight ball of heat swirled in her belly as she wondered if that was why she felt a connection to Catherine. She’d tossed and turned with her thoughts last night, wondering how she could find a way to see Dana O’Grady’s daughter again. “How would I know that?”
“Actually, I don’t know for sure, but she’s got this wonderful bookstore, and a lot of the gay community goes there, and that’s what I’ve heard.”
Zoë slipped into her seat and poured milk on her cereal. She wanted so badly to see Olivia in a loving relationship. For years Olivia had insisted she didn’t have time for romance. Her work was really important to her, and that was where she needed to put her time. She insisted that Zoe and Echo were her family, and she was willing to accept being single unless someone extraordinary crossed her path.
Zoë bit into a lush strawberry. “You never know, Olivia. Catherine O’Grady could turn out to be a lovely challenge.”
Olivia stared at her. “Are you kidding? Catherine and I are on very shaky ground.”
“You haven’t been in an earthquake in a while.”
Olivia rolled her eyes. They finished their cereal and rose with their empty bowls and glasses. Zoe rinsed the dishes and placed them into the dishwasher.
Olivia scooped Abbott and Costello off the floor and nestled them in her arms. Their lithe, serpentine bodies moved
fluidly as Abbott slinked along Olivia’s arm and nipped at the shiny buckle of her watch. Costello stretched to investigate her gold-loop earrings. “These two are forever looking for something shiny to steal.”
“They sure are. Echo couldn’t find her Mont Blanc pen this morning. She said if it doesn’t show up she’s going to tell Ruth she owes her one for her birthday.”
Olivia rubbed her thumb along Abbott’s face, feeling the smoothness of his short, caramel-colored fur. “Come on, you two kleptomaniacs. I’m putting you back in your cage.”
“That’s a good idea. The workmen are coming to start the remodeling work on our bathroom. We’re really lucky they were willing to come on a Saturday.” Zoe dried her hands on the hand towel. “Ruth would kill us if anything happened to her little darlings.”
“Yeah, and I don’t think I can handle having another woman pissed at me.”
Zoë caressed Abbott’s face. “You have to admit, Olivia. They’re so cute and playful.”
“They weren’t so cute when they climbed into my pants and started bouncing all over my bedroom floor last night. I just about had a heart attack.”
Zoë burst into laughter. “Oh, Olivia. That must have been a sight. Not something you ever imagined climbing into your pants.”
Olivia laughed. “No, certainly not what my dreams are made of.”
Seven
DANA SET THE STACK of computer books down on the customer-service desk and grabbed the phone. Catherine had gone to the hospital to deliver a box of used romance novels for the volunteers to hand out to patients. “Thank you for calling Cocoa Cream. This is Dana. How may I help you?”
“You can begin by telling me your daughter doesn’t hate me.”
Dana’s laughter filled the phone line as she slipped onto the nearest stool. “My daughter couldn’t hate anyone. How are you, Olivia?”
“Not too bad, considering the rodents in my home and the workload at the hospital. Except for a quick hike Saturday morning I spent most of my weekend with patients. Dana, tell me honestly. Do you think Catherine would be willing to talk to me? I’m not comfortable with how we left things on Friday.”