Twice Upon a Train Page 20

  “You?”

  “I’m meeting with a representative from AA, hoping to arrange for them to meet regularly at Afton Memorial.” Even though Keegan had managed to get her drinking under control, Willow remained committed to those struggling with alcoholism.

  “That’s great,” Keegan said, reaching across to touch her hand. “You’ve really grabbed your job by the horns. Everyone’s talking about how well you’re doing. I’m so proud of you.”

  “It’s the community, they’ve been so good to embrace what I’m trying to do.”

  “That’s because your ideas are good. And they like you.”

  “I think it’s you,” Willow responded. “There’s not a day that goes by that someone doesn’t tell me how thankful they are that you came to Afton Memorial, that you singlehandedly saved their hospital with your surgical residency program.”

  Keegan shook her head, smiling. “I didn’t singlehandedly save Afton Memorial.”

  Willow chuckled. “No, you hired two surgeons who came because they wanted to learn your approach to emergency gastrointestinal surgeries—and together, you saved Afton Memorial.” She peered into her eyes, her voice softening. “The move has been so good for you, the smaller hospital, less pressure, it’s what you needed to get a handle on your nightmares.”

  “And, my drinking.”

  “Yes, and your drinking.”

  “I think the problem started when as Chief I began to load up on surgeries,” Keegan continued. “In a hospital as large as NYC General, there simply wasn’t enough time in the day to be an administrator as well as a full-time surgeon.” She took a soft breath, allowing it to escape slowly. “And I knew that. But with Mark gone, I needed to stay busy, needed to keep my mind occupied. I couldn’t stand the silence. You know?”

  “I do know,” Willow answered softly. “And to make matters worse, you weren’t sleeping. Lack of sleep can do some freaky things to the mind.”

  “I’m living proof of that. Exhibit one, the shark.”

  “Yes, the shark. I’m so glad she’s gone.”

  “You and me both. Did you ever tell Nikki about her?”

  “No, of course not. I wouldn’t share something so private.”

  “You could have,” Keegan said. “I may sometime. Oh well, water under the bridge now.” She raised an eyebrow. “Hey, how’d we get on me when it was you we were talking about?”

  “Beats me,” Willow responded, saying that she should get on her way to her meeting. “Call me when you leave for the airport,” she added, rolling her scooter off its kickstand.

  “I will,” Keegan promised.

  *

  Keegan checked the board, relieved that both flights were on schedule. The last thing she wanted was to be stuck at the airport, miles from home, entertaining her parents while they waited for her in-laws to land. It’d been better between them since Willow, but having spent little time together through the years, they were still working up to the comfort level that most families take for granted. She moved closer to the gate as a woman on the loudspeaker said that United Flight 4053 Mobile to Salt Lake City was on the ground. “Welcome to Utah,” she greeted, hugging her mom, and then her dad. “Did you have a good flight?”

  “I’m not sure that’s possible, honey,” her mama responded.

  “It was good,” Harper corrected, thanking her for paying their airfare. She’d purchased airline tickets for all of their guests, with the exception of Nicole.

  “It was our pleasure,” Keegan responded, pushing his wheelchair to where they’d wait for the next flight. She felt a pinch in her stomach, realizing that although his tests were better, and he did seem stronger, he still wasn’t good.

  “So, Willow’s folks are coming too?” Georgia Belle asked.

  “Yes, and our friend, Nikki.”

  “And, we’re all staying at your new house?” Harper inquired.

  Keegan nodded. “We have five bedrooms and three bathrooms. We’ll be fine.”

  “It’ll be like a slumber party,” Georgia Belle responded with a chuckle. “I’ve been looking forward to meeting Willow’s people for months.”

  Keegan nodded, but didn’t comment. “Sit tight,” she said, standing, “Their flight’s on the ground. I’ll be back in a few minutes.”

  “Take your time,” Harper responded.

  *

  “Look! There’s Keegan,” a woman in her mid-fifties called out, waving. “Over here, Keegan.”

  Keegan smiled, waving back, wishing she’d lower her volume. “Welcome to Utah,” she greeted, as the brunette’s arms came around her. She shook her father-in-law’s hand. He was a quiet man with a weak handshake, no doubt bullied by his wife. She hugged Willow’s grandma, a woman who reminded her of her wife. She was delightful in every sense of the word. “My parents are just down the way,” she said, explaining that her plan was to leave them to get acquainted while she walked out to get her SUV, a BMW with more room than the sedan she’d traded in. Returning to collect them, she was relieved that everyone seemed to like one another, especially her mom and Willow’s grandma. “Hop in,” she said, tossing their luggage in the back. She called Willow on her way home to tell her that their guests were hungry and found a pot of chili on the stove when she came through the kitchen door. As they ate, Nikki rang the doorbell.

  “And, we have a full house,” Willow announced, showing her to the kitchen, and making introductions. “Can I get you a bowl of chili?” she asked, expecting Nikki to decline.

  “Sure, that sounds good,” Nicole responded, holding Keegan’s gaze for a long moment. When her thirty days of in-patient treatment were up, the unit recommended that she stay sixty, and although she wasn’t happy, she did. The extra time had obviously paid off.

  “You look good,” Keegan said with a gentle smile.

  “Thanks,” Nicole responded, “I’m almost up to where they want me.” At discharge, she’d been referred for outpatient counseling. And, although she hadn’t mentioned it during their weekly phone calls, Keegan had no doubt that she was still attending.

  “Our home is your home,” Willow announced, slipping her arm around Keegan’s waist. “We want you all to make yourselves comfortable.” They’d decided ahead of time that the more easygoing they were, the easier it would be to have their entire immediate family as guests.

  “Oh, we will,” echoed around the rustic-yet-refined dining room table, large enough to seat ten comfortably. After dinner, when asked what they’d like to do, the group unanimously wanted to spend the evening looking at photo albums—wedding photos in particular.

  “We didn’t take that many,” Willow responded, explaining that they’d invited no one except Nikki and Naomi, their witnesses.

  “And, honeymoon pictures,” Georgia Belle added. “I know you had to take quite a few of them. No one goes to Hawaii on their honeymoon without taking pictures.”

  “Now you’re talking,” Keegan responded, setting several albums on the table. “When you’re finished with these, we have more. Every time I turned around on our honeymoon, my wife was snapping a shot of something.” She gave Willow a loving squeeze. “Isn’t that right, honey?”

  Willow’s eyes twinkled. “I may have taken one or two photos.”

  *

  “Got ‘em all settled in?” Keegan asked, turning back the covers.

  “Yep, all settled in,” Willow answered, undressing, and slipping into her nightgown. “Everyone seemed happy and I think they all had a good time. So, all-in-all, I think night one of our first family weekend went pretty well.”

  Keegan crawled in, coaxing her onto her shoulder. “And, with each day, it’ll get easier. It helps that they seem to genuinely like one another.”

  “Oh yeah,” Willow responded. “And, it helps that no one’s making a big deal about sexuality. They’re just treating us like a regular married couple and each other as in-laws.”

  “That’s because we are a regular married couple,” Keegan answered, kissing the
tip of her nose. “And they are in-laws.”

  “I’ll tell you what though,” Willow continued, “I think my mom and dad could’ve been pains in the ass about us had we not introduced you the way Nikki suggested.”

  “Maybe,” Keegan responded, “but in all this time, as broke as they are, they’ve never asked us for money.”

  “No, but they sure have gotten their pound of flesh in medical advice,” Willow countered, chuckling. “I thought I was gonna die when my mom jacked her dress up her thigh at the table, asking you to take a look at her mole, a mole that even I know is an age spot.” She laughed from her belly. “And, I have to admit you handled it like a pro.”

  Keegan laughed with her. “That’s because I am a pro,” she said, her eyes watering. “But let me tell you, it felt pretty weird to have my mother-in-law show me the lace on her panties.” She rolled to top her, kissing her with tongue. “Now, if my wife were to show me the lace on her panties, that’d be a different story.”

  “What if she wasn’t wearing panties?” Willow asked seductively.

  “Well, gosh, I don’t know,” Keegan responded, kissing her as she slipped her hand under her nightgown. “Maybe we should find out.”

  Willow moaned. “Yes, I think we should.”

  About the Author

  KA Moll is a best-selling author of lesbian fiction. She writes stories about lesbians, burdened by past trauma, who find healing in the love of a soul mate. KA holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s degree in social work from the University of Illinois. She also holds a master’s degree in counseling from Eastern Illinois University. Her professional background is in mental health and child welfare. She enjoys golf, bridge, and of course, reading and writing lesbian fiction. She is the author of ten novels, Soul Mates, Coming to Terms, Haunting Love, Change of Heart, For A Moment’s Indiscretion, Blue Ice Landing, Close Enough to Touch, Whispers of the Heart, Deadly Deception, and Twice Upon A Train. All of her books are available in print, digital, and audio formats. She resides in central Illinois with her teacup Maltipoo and her lovely wife of thirty-three years. KA can be reached through her website www.kamoll.com.

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