Uncertainty filled Holly's thoughts as she entered the crowded restaurant. She and Jordan Norwood, the woman who helped her as a teenager, were meeting for brunch. The arrangements made mainly through Jordan's assistant. The attorney quit practicing a few years ago, but she continued to consult if needed. A benefit of being semi-retired, the assistant explained.
Holly checked her reflection in the mirror behind the hostess stand. The restaurant had a pleasant atmosphere. There wasn't an overwhelming sense of formality with the staff or patrons. Wearing a green polo shirt tucked into a pair of tan chinos, she hoped she appeared professional yet casual at the same time. Meeting Jordan as an adult instead of a confused and disoriented teenager had Holly wondering what her one time savior would think of her. She asked the hostess for the Norwood party. The young woman smiled and ushered her towards the tables overlooking the patio. Sitting at the table was an older, grayer, Jordan Norwood. The years had been kind to the attorney. She had a pair of glasses perched on her nose as she read the menu. In front of her was a steaming cup of coffee.
"Here you are." The hostess gestured towards the table.
"Thank you." Holly gave her a slight smile and turned to see the shocked expression of her former attorney. "Ms. Norwood." Holly extended her hand. "It's good to see you again."
"Holly Graham." Jordan got to her feet and she was at least four inches shorter than the doctor. "You look absolutely marvelous." Holly chuckled as she thought about the Billy Crystal comedy skit. She welcomed Jordan's embrace like a warm blanket being wrapped around her. "You've done well for yourself Dr. Graham." Jordan commented as she stepped back from the hug.
"Thank you. You look wonderful." Holly took in the woman standing next to her. Jordan had gained a little weight, but she expected a person to change in twenty years. She wore very little jewelry, but what caught Holly's eye was the simple silver band on Jordan's right ring finger. Holly wondered if the ring had always been there. "Sit, please." Holly gestured to the table.
"You don't know how many times I wondered what happened to you." Jordan said as she settled into the chair placing the cloth napkin back on her lap. "At this moment, I don't care what brought you calling, just promise, it will not be another twenty years before I hear from you."
"I promise." Holly said as she sat in the chair across from the attorney. "You look wonderful."
"Pish posh…" Jordan sipped her coffee. "You do know how to make an old woman feel good though. So out with it, why are you here? I get a call from an attorney in DC about you. Three weeks later you come into town and want to meet."
"My life is a mess." Holly placed an elbow on the table and rested her cheek on it. "I got caught up in a situation similar to my father's."
"Holly, you are a successful beautiful doctor, somehow I doubt there is any similarity between you and your father." Jordan reassured her.
"I know." Holly thought back to the young woman with similar features and color to her own. All night she had tossed and turned, wondering what her father had been thinking. "I went to the Richmond's home." The attorney's face remained impassive. "By chance I happened to meet the girl."
"Holly, that's speculation."
"It's like looking in a mirror." Holly huffed as she motioned to the waitress who approached with a coffee pot. "It wasn't my goal to mess up some innocent kid's life. I wouldn't wish that on anyone." She thought about how Jordan swooped in and saved her when her parents abandoned her.
"Do you want to tell me about your trouble?"
"I do. I finally had everything going my way. My job and career have always been the focus. Then I met someone. Someone special and I started figuring out there was more to life than just work."
"Tell me about them. How did you meet?" Jordan leaned back in her chair waiting. Holly told her the amusing tale of meeting Tracey and how their relationship developed.
"She sounds amazing and good for you." Jordan paused a second then added. "What happened, since you used a past tense?"
"I haven't gotten to how the situation gets messed up." Holly continued to tell her tale. Jordan listened intensely to her as Holly wrapped up with her trip to Ohio and the idea of her father being caught up in the same situation.
"I guarantee you that you have nothing in common with your father. Although, I do not condone what your father did, he was a trusted educator and a lonely man."
"What suggestions do you have?"
"Your attorney, Ms. Keller seems very sharp. I think that was a step in the right direction. Holly, the defense is going to have to prove a relationship with the young woman. If you never interacted with her inappropriately, you should be cleared."
"It's the 'should be' part that is killing me." Holly picked up the menu and glanced at the selections.
"What about your friend, Tracey?" Holly felt as if the wind had just been taken out of her sails when Jordan mentioned Tracey. Her face dropped and she stared at her lap for a moment. "Have you had any contact with her since this all happened?"
"Not really. Noel advised me it would be best not to have contact with her. We have run into each other once. It was a pretty ugly scene." Holly remember standing in Johnny's and staring at Tracey. The insults Maxie flung her way and how Piper ushered her outside away from the scene. Vonnie walked a fine line between her friends and making sure Holly taken care of.
"Was Tracey being ugly?"
"No." Holly came to the realization that Tracey hadn't said a thing to her since the auditorium. "No, a friend of hers was extremely vocal as to her opinion of me."
Jordan smiled. "It's not her friend's opinion that should matter. It's her opinion or feelings on the matter. Do you now how she feels?"
"I'm not sure. At first, I think we were both in shock. She said some hateful things." Holly thought about that day. She went there to pick up Tracey and go to her parent's for dinner. "I have no idea how she feels about me."
"How do you feel about her?"
"I love her." The simple phrase flowed like lyrics to a song. Holly didn't have to think about the words. She knew in her heart she loved Tracey. She wished she had been brave enough to share her feelings earlier in their relationship. When she finally did utter the words, the teacher didn't believe her. "She loved me at one time, but I have no idea how she feels now."
"If she loves you and has a lick of common sense, she'll see the truth. It's clearing all the muck that takes the time." Jordan reached across the table and covered Holly's hand with her own. "She'd be a fool to think otherwise. I don't think you're the type of woman who falls for a fool."
"I'm not. Nor am I the type to fall prey to a teenager, yet I did." Holly heard the sadness in her voice. She wished she knew how Tracey felt. She didn't want to be with anyone else.
"We all make mistakes Holly." Jordan said as she signaled for the waiter. "That is a story for another time. Let's order some food and you can tell me about medical school and hospital you work at."
"Sounds like I'm going to be doing all the talking." Holly raised an eyebrow at the attorney. "I'll make you a deal. You tell me about retirement and I'll rehash my dull school years."
"You're a beautiful woman Holly. I doubt your school years were dull."
"Sure, medical school for a teenager was all fun and games." Holly teased. "You try to get out of a refrigerated cadaver drawer and then we'll talk." Jordan's laugh filled the restaurant.
"Oh you poor thing, you have to tell me." And Holly did.
"Hang on!" Tracey yelled back, grimacing at the sound of her voice. Her head pounded more and her stomach threatened to roll. She didn't remember getting into bed last night. She hoped Piper was the one who helped her undress. She would never live it down if it was Mel. Somehow she managed to get out of her jeans from last night and was wearing a ratty pair of sweat pants and an oversized Ravens t-shirt splattered with paint. Running a hand through her hair she tried to flatten down the puffiness of bed head. She glanced at the clock, eleven thirty. She couldn't yell at the visitor for an early morning interruption. If it was a solicitor, she was going to go off the deep end. Tracey placed her hands flat on the door. She didn't care what she looked like. Anyone who knew her wouldn't care either. Taking a breath, she leaned to look through the peep hole. Standing on the other side was Zoey Pope. The recently graduate looked upset and panicked. She unhooked the chain and turned the dead bolt. Pulling open the door, Zoey rushed into her apartment.
"Miss Campbell, they got it wrong! Everyone is wrong!" Zoey came into the apartment, her hands flaying in the air as she paced towards the picture window. She turned and looked at Tracey. "You look like crap." Zoey's attire ran the opposite side of the spectrum, pressed black slacks and a silk purple button down shirt.
"Thank you." Her sarcastic comment was met with a confused look. "The story of my life of late." Tracey moved into the kitchenette to start a pot of coffee. "So what's got you all riled up?"
"Is it true you are suspended and not coming back?"
"Zoey, this really isn't a conversation I should be having with you. Technically, you shouldn't be in my home." Pushing the start button on the machine, she turned towards the small blonde in her living room. It was mornings like this one where she wished she spent the extra cash for a Bunn. She wouldn't have to wait the five minutes for a cup of java.
"What? That is bullshit! This whole thing is bullshit!" Zoey practically yelled across the apartment. The teenagers face turned beet red.
Tracey's patience was at its breaking point. "What are you talking about?" Tracey moved to the couch and sat down, watching the teenager pace back and forth in front of her window. The pounding in her head eased when she shut her eyes.
"Are you still with Dr. Graham?"
"Zoey, my personal life is really none of your business." Tracey answered as best she could. She practically told Holly to get out of her life.
"Coach Campbell, I know what happened." The small blonde spoke softly. "I was there that day. I passed Michelle and Dr. Graham in the hallway." Tracey crossed her arms over her chest and prayed Zoey didn't come here to confess she slept with Holly. Just the thought of it made Tracey sick.
"Zoey, maybe this is something you need to tell your mother or an attorney." Moving her hands to her thighs, Tracey held on, hoping Zoey didn't drop a bomb shell on her. She watched Zoey back away to sit on the window ledge. In her hand she held a small package.
"This is something I need to tell you, show you." She pulled a jewel DVD case from the package. "Do you love Dr. Graham?"
Tracey's mouth dropped open than quickly snapped shut. The question felt like a shot to her gut. "With all of my heart." The answer hurt as Tracey felt her chest constrict and tears threatened to spill.
"So no matter what you saw or the fact she could have been with Michelle, you still love her."
"A harsh reality, but true." Tracey leaned her forehead against her fingers. "Part of being in love is getting hurt, putting yourself out there, taking a chance." Tracey knew she was rambling. "Love is not easy…love is hard. Trusting someone, being vulnerable …it's hard. And once you have been burned or hurt, you wonder if it was worth it."
"Is it worth it?" Zoey's big blue eyes looked up at her former coach.
"Every moment I spend with Holly was worth it. If we ever get past this situation, I'm not sure what will happen."
"I have something for you. You should get it to your lawyer and probably Dr. Graham's." Zoey stood up and set the package on the coffee table.
"What is it?" Tracey eyed the small package.
"Last night, I went to see my grandparents. They live in a nursing home outside Hagerstown. They weren't able to get to my graduation so I had Malcolm record the ceremony." Tracey nodded knowing Malcolm frequently taped events at the school. "The beginning is what I am sure you will find it interesting."
Zoey walked to the door. "By the way Coach, I wrote my address and phone number on the tag in case you need it." Zoey started to exit. "I really like the doctor. I hope things work out for you. Do you remember that day in the locker room before the accident when you talked about people believing in you? Maybe you need to believe in the doctor, because I think she is worth having in your life." Zoey waved as she shut the door behind her.
Tracey went to the window that overlooked the parking lot. A small compact car pulled in front of the entrance doors and stopped. Zoey glanced back at the teacher just before she got in the car. Holly recognized the driver as Malcolm. She hoped her students were able to shed some light on the situation.
After the car had pulled away, she picked up the case and walked into the house. The square shaped package was hard and light weight, she opened it and found a reflective DVD inside. As Zoey had stated, her information was written on the tag. Checking the opaque box Tracey went to the entertainment center. Turning off the cable box and popping the DVD in the player, she pushed play. The black screen lit up to the high school auditorium. The date on the edge of the tape displayed the same date she accused Holly of touching Michelle. The time on the display was close…really close. Could this possibly be?
The video was just running of the empty auditorium. Tracey went to her knees and saw her reflection in the glass of the screen of the television. Intensely studying the picture in front of her, she heard the sound of the door opening first. Her eyes followed Michelle's form as she walked down the main aisle. The captured images were shot from just to the left of the stage. Tracey watched as Holly entered the auditorium behind the student. A feeling of anxiety washed over her, was I so blind? Tracey thought, knowing the doctor's body language seemed tense. Michelle abruptly stopped and the conversation could be heard and was crystal clear.
"You're with Coach aren't you?" Seeing Michelle's hand running up Holly's arm made the hair stand up on Tracey's arm. "You like women don't you?" When image the revealed Michelle grabbing Holly's jacket, a feeling of relief washed over Tracey.
She knew Holly would never be with this student. She rocked back on her heels, her smile lit up the room. She forgot all about her pounding head and her hangover.
Now, she had the proof the courts needed. This was what Holly needed to clear her name and hopefully get their relationship back on track. The smile on her face faded as she watched her form come into the auditorium and confront Holly. The hateful words spewed at Holly. The sound of the slap against Holly's face seemed to echo. She placed her hand on her cheek as if she had been the one slapped.
Did Holly still love her? Could the doctor love a woman who wouldn't even attempt to listen to an explanation? Why did Zoey ask her all those questions? The student knew what was on the DVD. Would she forgive her girlfriend if they treated her this way? If they didn't believe in her, probably not, she didn't care. She stopped the tape and headed to the shower. She was going to show this tape to Lee Christian, her attorney. She didn't care if she didn't have an appointment. This mockery had gone on for too long. She wondered what Lee had dug up on Michelle Stanley and her family. She needed to talk to someone about this. What she really wanted to do was give the information to Holly. The DVD would exonerate her. She'd find Mel Watkins. If she could get hold of the EMT, she would find Holly. When Piper and Mel dropped her off, she remembered the couple commenting about a quiet weekend at home grilling out. Tracey looked at the clock and hoped the couple hadn't changed their plans.
"Hello."
"Hey. I was wondering if you're coming back home?" Mel asked.
Holly fixed her ear piece and answered.
"Do you miss me already? Won't Number 3 wonder if you have a crush?"
"Don't call her that. She's right here." Holly listened as Piper could be heard in the background. "She's being nice." Mel said half way into the phone. "Listen, we are grilling out and wanted to know if you want to come over."
"I just hit Hancock, so I should be there in a couple of hours. I want to stop at home, take a shower, check messages, and the mail."
"I left it on the counter next to the frig." Mel watched her house on a number of occasions.
"Thanks, I'll see you later."
"Wait a minute, how was Ohio?"
"Mel, that's a story to be told over a beer or two."
"Or two huh? You'll tell me later right?"
"You bet." Holly wondered what her friend's reaction would be when she told her about Wendy. "Mel, thanks for everything."
"No problem Hol, that's what friends are for."
"Tell the officer I'll see her later. Do you need me to bring anything?"
"Just you."
Close to three hours later, Holly shut her car door and headed around the side of Piper's house to the backyard. She had more messages on her machine than she expected. A call from Dr. Nguyen threw her off. She hadn't expected to hear from her immediate supervisor until the charges were dropped or there was a change in her status. She called him back but got his answering service. There was an odd message from Tracey. Holly stood frozen looking at her machine when she heard the teacher's voice. There was a lot of background noise and Tracey rambled into the phone. By the number of cries, slurs and sighs into the phone, she knew she wasn't the only having troubles with the separation. She found some comfort in the fact the teacher hadn't erased her number even if she drunk dialed.
Changing into a pair of cut of jeans and a faded grey Orioles t-shirt, she figured she'd stay at Piper's for a couple beers and some food, then head home to finish the laundry she started. On Monday, she'd contact Noel Keller and let her know about her findings in Ohio and approach the subject of speaking with Tracey. The lawyer scoffed at her request last week. Maybe Holly just needed to take the chance and speak with Tracey.
"Well I don't give a shit about your reasons!" Mel's voice bellowed over the six foot privacy fence. Holly grimaced, wondering if she was walking into a lover's spat. She really didn't want to get in the middle of that. With her hand on the gate's handle, she debated if she should turn around and leave.
"This doesn't concern you Melanie!" Tracey voice shouted back.
"Holly is my best friend and if you're going to fuck her over, I swear to …"
"What's going on?" Holly opened the gate as soon as she recognized Tracey's voice. She saw Tracey and Mel locked in stare down. Although she thought Tracey still looked beautiful, she knew the teacher looked tired, thinner and pissed. The women turned at her question. Neither spoke. "What's going on?"
"I told her it's not a good idea that she's here because..."
"I need to talk to you…"
Holly tried to figure out which one she should listen to first. Her eyes stayed on Tracey. She didn't care what her attorney told her at this point. She knew she was innocent and from the call on her machine, she knew Tracey thought she was innocent.
"Hang on." Holly held up her hand. She turned to a red faced Piper who was busy fussing with the coals. "You!" Holly pointed to Piper. "Talk."
"Come on Doc." Piper shoved a poker in to the BBQ grill.
"Spill it."
"Tracey called and asked if I knew where you where. Technically, I didn't, but I knew you were coming over here later." Shifting uncomfortably on her feet Piper looked towards Mel. "It seemed important that she sees you and after Friday, I think…"
"Vonnie!"
"Mel, what if this happened to us? Would you like it if someone else told you we couldn't talk, couldn't see each other."
"We wouldn't get caught up in something like this." Mel crossed her arms over her chest and immediately regretted her words. "I'm sorry." She apologized to Holly then looked at the unshed tears in Tracey's eyes.
"Never take anything for granted Mel. Believe me I know that now." Holly walked over to Tracey and placed a hand on her cheek. When Tracey leaned into her caress, Holly watched as Tracey's eyes closed for a moment. She stood and stared into silver eyes. "I'm sorry I got us into this mess." She wanted to take Tracey in her arms and kiss her, but held back.
"It's not your fault, Holly. None of this is your fault or my fault." Tracey placed her hand over Holly's
"Still, I should have known better." Holly's head dropped. She felt Tracey's fingers tilt her face up. "I'm so sorry." It was Holly who was crying this time. She thought about all the what if's and the time lost between them. "My attorney instructed me to stay away from you but I really don't care anymore."
"Good, because neither do I." Tracey wrapped her arms around Holly's neck and brought their lips together. The brunette's kiss was soft but firm as if she was trying to reassert her place in Holly's life. Holly clutched her like a man overboard held on to a life preserver. She didn't want to let Tracey go, but she did pulling back to look into the teacher's eyes.
"I'm in love with you. I wanted you to know that."
"I know. Lately, I've been unsure of everything."
"Is that why you drunk dialed me the other night?"
"I did not."
"Yes, you did, and I still have the message to prove it." Holly leaned her forehead against Tracey's as she wrapped her arms around her waist. "I've missed you."
"God, I've missed you too. Oh!" Tracey said as she pushed away from Holly and went to her bag. She pulled out a DVD. "This is for you." Tracey handed Holly the box.
"What is it?" Today was her birthday, but she doubted the opaque disk was a present. She didn't expect Tracey to remember her birthday, not many people knew when it was anyways.
"I think we should all watch it and then you can decide what you want to do with it." Tracey looped her arm in Holly's. When Piper pointed to the coals, Mel slapped her on the arm. "Five minutes Vonnie."
Gathered around the family room television, the woman watched as Tracey popped the DVD into the machine and pressed play. Tracey didn't watch the screen, she knew what was playing. Instead she focused on Holly's reaction.
Larger brown eyes glanced from the screen to Tracey. As if someone had just handed her a present, Holly watched her image on screen. The camera angle captured Michelle Stanley grabbing and kissing her. She moved closer. "Replay that." Holly said. Piper hit the remote as the screen reversed. Frustrated, Holly took control of the remote and watched over and over, as Michelle grabbed, kissed and released. Falling back on her haunches, Holly looked at the faces in the room.
"Where did you get this?"
"One of the students, Zoey, dropped it off at my house this morning." Tracey said. "This shows what really happened. I'm sorry for doubting you." Suddenly, the room felt small and hot and Tracey needed to escape. She fled from the house out the gate.
Holly watched in amazement as the scene played out on the television. She heard Tracey's response but didn't realize the teacher had left until she heard the storm door shut. She looked at the space where Tracey had been standing and found it vacant. Scrambling to her feet, she chased after Tracey. Running down the side walk, Holly saw Tracey getting into her Jeep.
"Where are you going?" Holly grabbed the door just as Tracey went to shut it. Tears ran down the teachers face.
"I didn't think you'd want me around."
"What? Tracey, of course I want you around. I love you. Do you love me?" Holly asked. Tracey declared her love early in their relationship. Holly was the one who held back on declaring her feelings. Holly didn't expect Tracey to laugh at her question but the teacher did. "You think I'm being funny?"
"No, Zoey asked me the same question before she gave me the tape."
"What did you tell her?"
"I said I loved you with all of my heart." Tracey answered as her door was pulled open and Holly leaned in and kissed her with such passion she felt the air surrounding them sizzle. The intensity of the kiss increased when Tracey wove her fingers in Holly's hair, pulling her closer. Deepening the kiss, Tracey opened herself to Holly's probing as the desire they had held at bay for almost two months came on with full force. "Take me home." Tracey whispered. Their passionate kiss cooled into a kiss that communicated the need for an emotional reconnection.
"Don't want to make a scene in Piper's neighborhood?"
"Don't temp me doctor." Tracey teased. "I'll see you at your house?"
"I'll be right behind you." Holly eased the car door shut and waved as Tracey headed towards her house. Running back to Vonnie's, Holly was greeted by the laughing couple.
"Let me guess, you're leaving?" Mel teased.
"I'll call you tomorrow. Maybe we can meet for breakfast." Holly knew if she and Tracey were back together, they wouldn't make breakfast. "How about dinner? My treat?"
"Call us if you feel like company, okay?" Mel left the invitation open. Holly waved and turned to her car.
"Hey Doc!" Vonnie called out and threw the DVD to Holly when she turned. "You need to get that to your lawyer."
"Thanks…." Holly looked at the women. "I mean that. Thank you both for being there for me. I know it wasn't easy to go against friends and …."
"Holly, enjoy your birthday and don't worry about anything." Mel laughed as a Holly's cheeks turned crimson. Holly thought that everyone had forgotten her birthday. With everything that had been going on, she actually forgot what day it was. She knew Mel wanted to tease her about being a year older. She actually wouldn't be surprised if there was a cake on the counter with her name on it.
"Oh by the way, I met my sister." Holly told Mel as she quickly got in her car. Grinning like a fool, Holly knew the EMT would stew over her comment until she saw her again.
Tracey hadn't used her key since May. She had often wondered if Holly changed the locks and the security codes. When the lock released and she punched in the code 0726 Holly gave her, she realized today was Holly's birthday. Shit! Tracey thought as she leaned against the kitchen counter. At least she could spend the night with Holly. Tomorrow, she would go get her a birthday present. The house was spotless except for the pile of mail and the note pad on the counter. Mel had said Holly had gone to Ohio. Tracey wondered how the trip went. She looked over the note pad next to the phone and saw her name written down with a question mark and a heart. Tracey pulled out her cell phone and searched through her dialed calls. Indeed, she did call Holly after Vonnie and Mel dropped her off at the house. She eyed the machine and thought about erasing the evidence, but knew Holly probably wanted to save it for blackmail purposes. Tracey didn't mind, she would do anything Holly asked her. Dr. Nguyen's name was underlined a few times with his number scratched out. Tracey hoped it was good news.
"Hey!" Holly said as she walked in the back door. Seeing Tracey in the kitchen felt great, like they were a couple again.
"Happy Birthday!" Tracey put a hand on Holly's forearm. "I forgot until I put in the alarm code."
"It's not a big deal. I forgot myself."
"It is a big deal." Tracey ran her hand up and down Holly's arm. "Is there anything you want?" The breathy question sent shivers up Holly's spine.
"You, I want you." Holly bent over and scooped Tracey up in her arms. "I want you in my life, my bed, my house. I want to be with you for the rest of my life." Holly kissed her as she carried her upstairs to the bedroom.
"Why Dr. Graham, I think that can be arranged!" Tracey squealed as Holly dropped her on the bed and covered the length of Tracey's body with her own. Neither of them cared if the entire neighborhood heard them or not. Zippers were undone, shoes went flying as clothes were stripped by wandering hands. The need to feel, reconnect became the focus of touches, nips, kisses, and caresses. Frantically, they battled for dominance as flesh slid against flesh. Tracey was on top, then positions were reversed by Holly. She wrapped her legs around Holly's hip, groaning and grinding her pelvis wantonly against the long, lean body. When Tracey tried to buck Holly off, Holly leaned down and kissed her nose. "It's my birthday remember. I get what I want." Holly continued her kisses, touching every inch of Tracey's body. Along her neck, past her clavicle, to her breasts where she took her time, licking, sucking and fondling the warmth. Tracey moaned then pulled Holly closer when the doctor's mouth closed around her nipple and sucked.
"Harder!" Tracey lifted her hips as the sensation at her breast traveled straight to her center. "More..." Tracey let her head lull back against the pillow.
"Patience, my love." Holly said as her hand replaced her mouth and she squeezed the rock hard nipple. Tracey moaned at the touch. Holly circled her naval with her tongue, wanting to imprint every sound, touch and taste in her memory. She never wanted to forget what it was like to make love to Tracey.
"Please Holly, touch me. I need you to touch…" Tracey barely got the words out as Holly answered her plea with penetrating fingers. Tracey moved, gyrating her hips as her desire swelled. Clutching handfuls of Holly's hair, she rose and fell, meeting each of Holly's thrusts. Bodies' slick with sweat moved against each other as bodies tensed and internal muscles contracted around Holly's fingers. Groaning and gasping, Holly felt Tracey climax as she quickly followed, slumping against her lover.
They made love through the night, finally falling asleep exhausted in each other's arms. In the early morning sunlight, Holly's heart swelled as she watched her lover sleep. Leaning on an elbow, her face resting in the palm of her hand, she watched as the sun glittered off the dust particles and bathed Tracey in its warm glow. With her fingers, she traced a lazy path along the sleeping figure's shoulder and down to the roundness of her hip. Time wasted, so much time wasted. She loved this woman the same way Tracey had said earlier, with all of her heart. Never again would anything come between them. Cloudy gray eyes flickered open as Tracey woke.
"I was afraid to wake up." The soft confession purred for the figure lying naked on her stomach with a thin sheet covering from the waist down.
"Why?" Holly leaned closer and whispered in her ear.
"I didn't want this to be a dream." There were unshed tears in those cloudy eyes.
"No sweetie, not a dream. Never again, will something come between us. Never!" Holly kissed her with the heat of a thousand flames. She would never let anything come between them again.
Chapter 21
Tracey tapped the toe of her black leather pump on the marble floor. Sitting in the main floor of the office building which housed the law firm of Boardman, Boardman, and Boardman, she waited for Noel Keller and Lee Christian.
Since Holly's return from Ohio and the new evidence Zoey provided, their lives became a whirlwind of hurry up and wait. Meetings led to more meeting and soon the couple's attorney's joined forces. Holly filled Tracey in on her trip home, meeting with Jordan Norwood, and the Richmond's, including the possibility of Wendy being her half sister. Tracey didn't hesitate when Holly asked her to move in. She had her brothers, Mel and Vonnie help her empty her apartment and move her things to Holly's or into storage. Since the incident at Johnny's, Tracey avoided Maxie. Although she still thought of the banker as a good friend, she knew Holly was deeply hurt by the banker. Tracey just thought her friend wouldn't understand why she went back with Holly. Tracey questioned if Maxie had an alternative motive to keep them apart.
Today, she sat in the common area coffee shop waiting for the meeting upstairs to conclude. Their attorney's were invited to an early afternoon meeting with the legal team representing the Stanley's. The attorney's requested that Tracey or Holly be available if needed. Tracey glanced at the watch which read just pass two o'clock. Holly had an eleven o'clock meeting with Dr. Nguyen and members of the hospital's board. Although the doctor wanted to be here, her responsibility to the hospital came first. Whatever happened in the conference room upstairs would happen whether or not she was waiting with Tracey. She wasn't sure what was happening in the meeting but she thought their attorney's were presenting the recorded evidence to the opposition.
Tracey really wished she could be a fly on the wall when Geoff Stanley watched his little princess fall from her pedestal. Just as the thoughts left Tracey's thoughts, a commotion at the elevator grabbed her attention. Geoff Stanley stepped in to the lobby, his hand firmly grasping Michelle's elbow. The teenager struggled as her father tried to move her out of the building to the awaiting Lincoln Town Car idling at the curb. Michelle pulled away from her father and began to scream and cry.
"I didn't do anything wrong!" The teen called out to anyone who would listen. Geoff's face turned a deep red as he continued his mission. His eyes darted around the building as he dared anyone to question him. He stopped in his tracks when his eyes landed on Tracey. Michelle followed his gaze as her eyes landed on Tracey.
"You did all of this! You set me up! You and that friend of yours! You're a sick bitch!" Michelle screamed at her. The teen would have launched a full out attack on her if her father's arm hadn't held her back.
Tracey felt her defensives rise as the teen began screaming. She looked around for the security guard. Places like this always had a rent a cop or two in the lobby. Getting to her feet in case Michelle broke free, Tracey stared into her former students eyes. "The truth is out Michelle. You can scream all you want. The more you drag Holly's name through the mud, the hole you're in gets deeper."
"That bitch is …"
"I'd advise your daughter not to complete her sentence." A tall raven hair woman in a power suit warned Geoff Stanley. "My client in not here but this is a public place and we know what damage your daughter has already done." Tracey had yet to meet Noel Keller, but she realized who the woman protecting Holly's name was.
"Michelle! Car now!" Geoff's voice echoed off the marble floor. The teen's face turned ashen as she turned and stomped towards the exit.
"Mr. Stanley, we'll be in touch." Noel stated dismissing the county official. Geoff straightened his shoulders and nodded to the women. Waiting until he cleared the doors, Noel let a smile crack through. "Interesting family."
"I'll second that." Lee Christian said easing the tension. "Tracey, let me introduce you to Noel Keller, Holly's attorney." The small blonde introduced the raven haired woman.
"Tracey, good to finally meet you. I've heard a lot of good things about you." Noel extended her hand to the teacher. "Did Holly make it?"
"No, she had a meeting at the hospital. I thought she'd be here by now." Tracey had a small inkling of worry creep into her subconscious.
"We thought we could take you and Holly out to dinner this evening. Maybe invite Zoey and Malcolm."
"Malcolm left for school. He received a scholarship to UCLA film school."
"What about Zoey?"
"She's still here. I'm pretty sure she won't pass up a meal." Tracey joked about the small blonde that was always hungry.
"I have to go. I will see you both tonight?" Noel asked as she hoisted her bag on her shoulder. She stared a little bit longer at the blonde attorney.
"Absolutely, Brewster's Art at eight." Lee replied. "Do you want me to call for reservations?"
"No, I will have Willie do it. If I don't he thinks I'm out to replace him. The little bugger doesn't realize I can't get a thing done if he isn't around. I will see you tonight." She waved to Tracey and Lee and began to walk away. "Oh Lee!" Noel turned and called to the blonde. "Great work up there." Noel winked and walked away.
Tracey watched the blush rise in Lee's cheeks as her eyes were settled on Noel's retreating form. When Lee realized Tracey was watching her, she looked away. "Things went well?" Tracey asked trying to gain the attorney's attention.
"Yes, very well. I'm just glad I didn't have to go up against Noel. I think she would have wiped the floor with me."
"What did she do upstairs?"
"Showed them who the big fish was in the pond and ate those guys for lunch." Lee smiled at the memory. "So do you want to meet at Brewer's or should I pick you up?"
"We'll meet you there. I'll call if there is an issue. Thanks for everything Lee." Tracey gave the attorney a hug.
"Tracey, thank you. And thank Zoey and Malcolm if it wasn't for them, I don't think Holly would be cleared so quickly."
"We've lost enough time haven't we?" Tracey thought about the two months away from Holly.
"Yes, now go see what's keeping her." Lee waved as she watched Tracey head home.
If the evidence Zoey gave Tracey was enough proof to exonerate her, she could get back to some normalcy. Yet she had to wait. Noel planned on not only having the charges dropped, but to file a counter suit against the Stanley's for defamation of character. When she confided in the attorney about being back with Tracey, the raven haired attorney laughed and said she knew. It was her job to know facts about her clients. Also, she didn't blame Holly for wanting to be with the person she loved. Tracey attorney, Lee Christian contacted Noel with her findings on the Stanley family. Lee had research every avenue she could find including emails, chat rooms, blog postings and findings. Noel guaranteed Holly all charges against her would be dropped. With Noel and Lee's joining forces, Holly knew the women would not let her or Tracey down.
Normally, she would drive past the front and turn down the alley and park in the driveway. She slowed her Honda as she passed the front of her house. Parked on her curb was a worn and torn maroon Pontiac Grand Prix with Ohio plates. The sight that set her back was what she found on her porch. Sitting on her stoop was a familiar blonde teenager with her knees pulled up with her chin resting casually on them. Her hair pulled back with a blue painter's bandana. Wendy Richmond found her and was sitting on her porch.
"Son of a bitch." Holly let the profanity slip from her lips as she made the turn down the alley. She wondered who she pissed off to be going through all this crap. Noel's last piece of advice to her stood out as she felt her blood pressure rise. Her attorney advised her to maintain a low profile and to stay out of any situation involving teenagers. Now sitting on her porch was her eighteen year old half sister. At least she told Noel about her father's actions and the strong possibility of a half sister. The proof was walking talking and about to throw a monkey wrench into her life. What did Wendy want?
Her visit to Ohio was definitely eye opening. She expected to hear some type of correspondence from the Richmond family. Like a letter to stay away for the family. In the weeks since she returned, there had been no correspondence. Jordan Norwood was contacted by Noel to see if anyone reached out to her directly. Yet, sitting on her front porch was Wendy.
Holly parked and went into the house via the back door. She didn't stop, heading straight for the front door. Wendy jumped in surprise as the front door opened. She looked at Holly, her large brown eyes red rimmed and fresh tear tracks covered her cheeks. The bandana covered her unkempt hair. She wore a wrinkled disheveled Cleveland Indians t-shirt with cut-offs made from a pair of cotton pants. Trek sandals donned her feet as she leaned her back against the porch post.
"Having a rough day?" Holly asked as she sat down against the opposite post. She let her long legs stretch to the second step. Her anxiety disappeared as soon as she saw Wendy's face. The girl was having a hard time. The last thing Holly wanted to do was add to her angst.
"I hate her." Wendy confessed her voice crackling as she spoke. She tried to hide the tears. Holly didn't bother to ask who. She carried the same feelings for Louise Richmond a long time ago. "It's hard enough that I thought she was my sister. Now," Wendy caught her breath and rubbed her face. "She's my mother. I hate my mother. I do."
"I'm sorry." Holly admitted. She went home to clear her father's name. Instead she opened Pandora's Box for this young woman. "Have you talked to your parents? The Richmond's?"
"And say what?" Wendy cried. "They are just as guilty, probably more. I always thought Lou hated me. Now I know why." Wendy pushed her feet out and leaned forward. The world the teen knew was crumbling around her. "She was sixteen and pregnant by her Math teacher. I sure the hell wouldn't want to keep the baby. Is it right to have your parents adopt your child and raise it as a sibling? How fucked up is that?" Wendy put her hands on top of her head. She closed her eyes and wished for inner peace. "I'm so fucked up."
Holly studied her for a moment. "They did what they thought was right."
She recalled going through a similar situation when she was sixteen. "You can't pick your parents. Believe me." Holly stood up and brushed the dirt from her dress slacks. "If we're going to have this conversation, I'm going to need to change and a beer." Crossing her arms over her stomach, she looked at the car parked out front and the condition her half sister was in. "Where are you staying?"
"I booked at a room by the horse track."
"Did you get an hourly rate?" The shock on the teens face caused Holly to laugh. "Stay here. Get your stuff put it in the guest room. Take a shower and meet me out back when you're done." Holly left before Wendy could protest. She really didn't feel like arguing.
"Thanks." Wendy stammered as she watched the tall blonde doctor walk into the house. She looked at the clothes she had been wearing since yesterday afternoon. Half way to Baltimore, she pulled over in a Pennsylvania rest stop and slept in the backseat. Lifting her arm and sniffing, she grimaced. Ripe was a good adjective. She chuckled. Her mother and Lou would have a fit if they knew she spent the night in her car.
For the first time in weeks, she smiled. This was something she wasn't able to do since the mysterious blonde appeared at her front door. Lou went into a hissy fit as soon as she closed the door. Mrs. Hill was with the stranger. The way the woman outside acted. Made her believe there was something serious going on and Lou was not telling her. When Wendy started to ask her sister questions, Lou got pissed off and told to go to her room.
"You're not my mother." Wendy snapped back and watched as Lou's face turned a ghostly white. Her sister reached for the support of the door jam. A defeat Lou looked into her brown eyes and quietly asked for Wendy to go to her room. For some reason the look in her sister's eyes scared her.
For days on end, the stranger with Mrs. Hill continued to bother the teenager. She had seen her somewhere before. The woman was just so familiar. Wendy couldn't place her, but she knew she knew the woman.
"Lou, who was that woman?" Wendy asked as she climbed the stairs to her room.
"No one important." Lou immediately turned and went into their father's study. Wendy heard the phone being picked up just as Lou closed the door for privacy. For no one important, the family attorney's were quickly called into service.
The last couple weeks had been complete hell for Wendy. Her parent's immediately flew home from Florida. There was closed door meeting after closed door meeting. Lou refused to look at Wendy and was constantly crying. Wendy overheard a discussion regarding assault charges being filed against Dr. Holly Graham, the mystery woman. Why would assault charges be filed? The woman didn't get within ten feet of Louise. The talk around town was that the doctor had actually saved Sammy Dixon's life. There was no reason the doctor would want to talk to her sister. She needed to talk with Mrs. Hill. She had babysat for the Hill's two kid's dozens of times. The house felt like a prison. As if it went into lock down as soon as the attorney's left the house. Wendy argued desperately to go to her team's championship softball game. Finally, her father granted her request as long as she did not speak of the incident with the doctor.
"Whatever Dad." Wendy said staying in the house was driving her stir crazy. She couldn't wait to escape to George Washington University in the fall. She needed to get away from her family. The ball fields were still buzzing with the gossip about the doctor. Wendy felt the hush come over the crowd as she walked towards the field. Her ball bag slung over her shoulder. She waved hello and smiled at friends and church members. Their responses threw her off. Normally, Mrs. Forrest pulled her aside and inquired about her parents in Florida. Today, the woman barely returned her greeting. As soon as she got around her teammates, Jessie Barton pulled her aside.
"Is it true?" Barbie, her former classmate asked. Friends since grade school, the freckle faced girl was always stirring the pot.
"Is what true?"
"The doctor who saved Sammy, is she your sister?"
"What?" Wendy was completely taken back. "My sister is Louise."
"That's not what Mrs. Lennon at the store said. She said Louise is your mother."
"Fuck you!" Wendy punched Barbie before she realized what she was doing. She heard someone screaming and realized it was Barbie holding her eye. Grabbing her bag, she headed towards her car. In the parking lot leaning against her hand on Wendy's Pontiac, Mrs. Hill waited.
"Are you alright?"
"No." Wendy shook her head and began to shake. Her sister was her mother? The doctor was her sister? There were too many thoughts swirling in her brain.
"Come on we'll go for a ride."
"My dad." Wendy felt the bitterness of fear creep into her thoughts.
"You're dad is trying to protect you. We can talk." Wendy watched as Mrs. Hill made her way towards a mini-van with a decal soccer ball on the back window. In the hour she drove around with Krista, she refused to be called Mrs. Hill any longer. Wendy learned about Donald Graham, the teacher accused of having an affair with his student, Louise Richmond. She learned about how the Graham's daughter, Holly was caught up in the middle of a domestic meltdown. How the "girl genius" as the town described her, broke away from her family and left town. The ugly divorce and the charges the Richmond's and the county prosecutor filed against Mr. Graham.
Wendy felt exhausted. Her family, her existence wasn't what she thought. Her entire life was a lie. When she got home, she quietly went to her room. The next morning, she confronted her parents and Louise. Soon talk circled to bringing slander charges up against Krista Hill. Wendy looked at her parents and Louise. There was definitely a family resemblance. She had some but nothing like looking at the doctor. Holly Graham looked so familiar because Wendy looked just like her. Blonde hair, brown eyes, lean muscular build and the height, all of it was like looking in a mirror.
Five days later, she gathered some cash from her accounts, packed her belongings and headed towards Baltimore. School would start in a few weeks. She'd find a place to stay until the dorms opened. Popping open her trunk, she grabbed her duffle bag. She didn't expect to be waiting for Holly Graham on her front steps, but she was here. So far, the doctor hadn't sent her away. Instead, she invited her to stay. She'd take a shower get cleaned up and than get some of her questions answered.
As soon as Wendy went upstairs, Holly picked up the phone and called Noel's office. She didn't want anything to jeopardize her case. Wendy's presence in her home could do that, especially if the girl was a run away. Technically, the teen was a legal adult, but she didn't want to take the chance. Holly talked with Willie and requested her attorney to make inquires into any missing person claims associated with Wendy Richmond and Ohio. Holly waited until she heard the shower start and she retreated to the back porch, beer in hand.
Twenty minutes later, a much cleaner and relaxed looking Wendy appeared at the back door. "Thanks." Wendy said her hair still wet and slicked back against her scalp.
"Grab me a beer before you come out. Get yourself one too." Holly motioned with a gesture of her hand.
"Really." The teenager's excited voice filled the air as she turned toe towards the kitchen and returned with two very cold Coors Light's bottle. The blue mountains incrusted with a thin coat of ice. She handed one to Holly than took a seat in one of the empty forest green Adirondack chairs.
"You're a long way from home." Holly said as she removed the cap from the bottle. "Want to enlighten me?"
"Things went crazy after your visit. Lawyers were called. Mom and dad came home from Florida. There were all these meetings. Christ, I felt guilty and I didn't do anything."
"Exactly, remember that you didn't do anything Wendy." Holly closed her eyes and tilted her head back letting the afternoon sun warm her.
"I know. I'm nineteen years old and my life is a mess."
"I'm thirty four and my life is a mess. Nothing is easy." Holly commented. She held her bottle up for Wendy to toast. "Does your family know where you are at?"
"I'm an adult."
"That's not what I asked." Holly opened an eye and looked at the teenager. "Being an adult is being responsible for your actions."
"No, they don't."
"You can call them from here." She heard the rumblings of a protest from Wendy. "I don't need the cops beating at my door again."
"What? Never mind." Wendy asked as she took a sip of the hoppy beverage. "I'll call them later. Payment for the beer?"
"Maybe." Holly lifted her head from the chair. So much had changed in her life. She never imagined being suspended from the hospital and her license being in jeopardy. Nor did she ever imagine having a sister, let alone sitting on her back porch drinking beers. She took a sip from her bottle.
"Lou called you a dyke." Wendy said trying to catch the doctor's eye.
"If she did, not much has changed with her."
"She doesn't know I'm gay." Wendy confided in the doctor.
"What?" Holly said as she sat up in her chair and turned to the blonde sitting next to her.
"I'm a lesbian. I've known since I was in eight grade. Don't even go there with the phase thing. I've had enough girl friends to know it's not a phase." Wendy stretched her back one way than the other trying to loosen the tightness. She shifted her eyes to the two by two slates on the back porch. "My family doesn't understand. They'll freak out and send me to the preacher or some deprogramming program to turn me straight."
"I think I understand more than you know. " Holly reached a hand out and roughed Wendy's hair. "Why are you here?" She asked the question Wendy had been expecting first thing. Instead, the doctor had offered her a place to stay, a shower and a beer.
"I want to know the truth." Wendy was grasping at straws when she left home. She wanted to find Holly to get her answers.
"The truth hurts sometimes. That's what I found out. My trip home was to find out the truth about my dad. I found it alright and it's sitting on my back porch drinking a beer."
"So it's true."
"There are ways to find out."
"I'm not asking Lou." Wendy protested.
"Tests. Medical testing to determine DNA matches. Nothing fancy, plain old biology. A simple blood test would do it." Holly explained.
"Genetics." Wendy replied and Holly nodded. "We wouldn't have to have Lou's DNA."
"If we are related, our profiles will be enough to prove it."
"Can you do the tests?" Wendy felt the burden of the unknown lifting from her shoulders. "You're a doctor right?"
"Well that is all in semantics at this time." Holly waited for another question from the teenager. "I called my lawyer when you were in the shower."
"Ah man!" Wendy cried and got to her feet. "Why I didn't do anything illegal."
"It's not about you." Holly began. "I had some things happen this summer. As of today everything is looking better, but I still need to be careful."
"Why did you go back home after all these years?"
"I wanted to prove my dad was innocent."
"He wasn't innocent was he?" Wendy whispered as the realization of Holly's visit had a purpose.
"Yet to be determined but if he isn't, I'm glad I have a sister." Holly stood up headed for the kitchen. "Want another one?"
"Absolutely." Wendy downed the last of her beer and handed the empty to Holly just as a red Jeep pulled down the alley and stopped in the drive way. Wendy watched the beautiful looking brunette exit the truck and walk towards the porch.
"Hello sweetie." Tracey looked at Holly then the teenage girl sitting next to her. Walking up the steps, she approached Holly and placed a kiss on her lips. "Who's your friend?"
"Tracey, meet Wendy. Wendy, my girlfriend Tracey." Holly introduced them then wrapped her arms around Tracey's waist. "I was just going to get a couple of beers, do you want one?" Holly asked as Tracey's eyes slide quickly to Wendy and back.
"No, you stay here I'll get them. Wendy, nice to meet you. Are you in town visiting?"
"You can say that." Wendy shrugged as she watched Tracey walked into the house.
"She's a teacher?"
"Yep."
"If my teacher's looked like her, I would…"
"Tracey isn't your typical looking teacher." Holly smiled as she watched Tracey through the window.
"She hot."
"Smoldering." Holly laughed remember making love to Tracey all night long.
"Smoldering huh?" Tracey said as she handed the beers to the blondes. "I'll take that. We were invited to dinner by Lee and Noel. I'm sure they won't mind if Wendy joins us. Zoey will be there."
"Dinner? Why?"
"To fill us in on what happened this afternoon. Noel had to run to court so there wasn't a lot of time to debrief. How did your meeting go?"
"Better than I expected." Holly smiled and reached a hand out to grab Tracey's. She pulled the teacher close and on to her lap. "Smoldering…." Holly said as she nuzzled Tracey's neck and placed the cold bottle against the small of her back.
"Hey!" Tracey squealed as she tried to get away from the frozen mountains. Getting to her feet, she felt a swat on her rear.
"That's for ease dropping."
"I didn't know it was a secret that you find me attractive." Tracey teased.
"It's not. Neither is the fact I love you." Tracey felt the tears form in her eyes. Holly was immediately on her feet and pulling into an embrace. "I love you Tracey."
"I love you too." Tracey said into Holly's shoulder. Savoring the warmth of Holly's body against hers, she almost forgot their guest. She felt Holly's hand in her hair as her head was pulled back slightly for Holly to access her lips. The kiss was slow, methodical as if Holly wanted to convey all the love she felt for Tracey into that moment. A kiss Tracey would never forget. Breaking apart and staring into each other's eyes. They heard Wendy clear her throat.
"How long have you guys been together?" The teen asked as she wiped her rear off.
"Close to eight months." Tracey replied. She didn't want to think about the two months they spent apart.
"You act like you've been together a lot longer. I'm happy for you both." Wendy said as she stepped past the couple. "I'm going to call my mom and let her know where I am at. I don't want to get you in trouble Dr. Graham."
"Please call me Holly."
"Okay, Holly and Tracey?" The teacher nodded. "So where are we going to dinner and who are Noel and Lee?"
"Our attorney's." Tracey replied as the teen grimaced at the occupation. "It's a long ugly story, which hopefully will have a happy ending soon."
"I'll second that." Holly said. "There's a phone in your room if you want some privacy." The teen nodded and head upstairs.
"Did you know she was coming here?" Tracey asked as the teen turned the corner.
"God, no. I had no idea. I pulled down the street and she was sitting on the porch. She got a room at a motel by the horse track."
"Yuck."
"Exactly, that's why I told her she can stay here. I think she's scared." Holly turned to look in the house. "I'd be scared too."
"So how long is she here for?"
"School starts soon. She's at GW."
"I remember." Tracey placed a hand on Holly's cheek and directed her attention back to her. "What happen at the hospital?"
"I was reinstated."
"Thank God!" Tracey said as she felt relief wash through her body. She knew she would not return to Bayview High School at least Holly had her career back. "That's great news honey. Did you see our staff? Did Rollins give you a hard time?"
"Tracey, they…." Holly pulled away and walked across the porch. "They offered me a promotion, Chief of Emergency Medicine."
"That's absolutely …."
"In Chestertown. At Chester River Hospital."
"On the shore?"
"Yes."
"Why are you hesitant? This is what you wanted. You even said you wanted to move to the shore?" Tracey recalled the couple of days they spent at Maxie's house.
"I did, but your family, your job, your friends, they are all here." Holly ran her hand through her hair. "I don't want you to lose those things."
"My family will love me no matter where I live. They will probably invade us during the summer. My friends will visit as well. My job, well that isn't a factor."
"What do you mean?"
"Budget cuts happened earlier this summer and my job was cut." Tracey knew the politics behind the decision but it didn't matter. She really didn't want to go back to teaching. Michelle Stanley ruined any trust she had in her students.
"Why didn't you say anything?"
"I've applied for collegiate level teaching positions even a couple coaching positions at junior colleges." Tracey stepped closer. "I didn't want to tell you because it doesn't matter. I have some savings and if I need to I can borrow from my parents."
"You knucklehead, you don't have to borrow from your parents. I thought we were a couple, partners."
"I thought so to, but I didn't want to burden you with it." Tracey confessed.
"Honey, if we are going to make it as a couple, we need to talk. You would never be a burden. I never want anything to come between us. Including money."
"What do you think is going to happen with the law suit?" Tracey suddenly remembered Holly could have lost her livelihood.
"If Noel has the backup, the Stanley's are in for a rude awakening."
"She definitely has the backup. I saw some of the information Lee gathered." Tracey moved closer and looped her arm around Holly's waist pulling her close. "I'd take a dollar just to prove a point."
"I think Noel has more in mind than just a dollar. Come on let's go inside and see if we can kill some time before we have to go to dinner."
"Do you have something in mind?" Tracey stood on her tippy toes to kiss Holly's lips.
"First a shower…."
"Race you…"
Holly pulled Tracey's Jeep to the front of Zoey's apartment building. The small blonde waved to her coach as she approached the car. Zoey pulled open the back door.
"Hello. Dr Graham, a pleasure to see you again. I'm very happy about that." Zoey smiled at Holly.
"Me too, Zoey. Me too. Thank you for what you did." Holly looked at Zoey, but stole a glance at Tracey. "We can't thank you enough for your help."
"Dinner will make us even."
"We're not buying, the attorney's are. We'll figure out a way to repay you." Holly placed a hand on Tracey's knee. "Zoey, this is Wendy, a family friend from Ohio. She's in town visiting before school starts."
Zoey had noticed the blonde in the backseat as soon as she approached the car. She just didn't want to acknowledge how cute she thought the girl was. In fact, as she looked from Holly to Wendy, the resemblance was uncanny. "Hi Wendy. Where do you go to school at?"
"GW. What about you?"
"U of M, Baltimore to start. I hope to get enough money to transfer to main campus."
"Zoey won an academic scholarship to University of Maryland." Tracey said as she pulled into traffic.
"That's great. I should have paid more attention in school; maybe my grades would have been better. Instead, I have to rely on my parents for support."
"Did you talk with your mom?" Holly looked in the rearview mirror into the eyes that matched her own.
"Yes, she's upset, but better now that I called." Wendy looked towards Zoey. "I had some stuff going on at home so I came here to escape."
"Did it work?"
"No, but I'm here and I got to meet you so things are looking up." Zoey smiled as Wendy spoke.
"So where are we going coach? You got me all gussied up. Are you and the doc cruising for high school chicks again?" Zoey teased. Tracey almost drove off the road and Holly went into a coughing fit. "I'm joking. Don't have a heart attack Doc. Coach just got you back. I don't think she'd be forgiving if something happened to you."
"Zoey, I will agree with you on that, but if you make a joke like that again, you're walking home."
"Got it coach!" Zoey tapped her fingers on Tracey's seat and laughed.
Chapter 22
Labor Day weekend signified the end of summer. Holly drove down the familiar road towards the house she and Tracey had recently purchased. They originally looked at the house during their first trip to the shore in the spring. When the offer to take on the position of Chief of Emergency Medicine at Chester River Hospital Center, Holly knew it was her dream job. Her worries stemmed from wanting Tracey to move to the shore with her. Her worries were nullified when Tracey set her straight. Officially, Holly took the job the last week in August. They closed on the house last week Monday. Today, Tracey, Mel and Piper were bringing the last load from the old house to the new house. During the week, Tracey's brothers made a couple trips each with the moving van. Only Tommy grumbled about his sister moving twice within a month. Holly thought it was more of a tease than an actual grumble.
Holly pulled into the driveway. The For Sale sign no longer sat in the high grass of the front yard. There were other changes. A fresh coat of sky blue paint brightened the house and the dove gray shutters made perfect accents. The porch power washed and clear from sticks and leaves. Holly glanced at the clock on her dash board, she was late. There was an end of summer party at Maxie's house down the road. Since learning of the couple buying the house, the banker tried her hardest to try to befriend Holly.
Holly tried. She really tried to like Maxie, but every time she saw the banker, she felt as if she had to lay claim on Tracey. The banker loved Tracey and did not try to hide it. Holly just felt odd that she had to be nice to someone who wanted to sleep with her partner. She really didn't want to go to Maxie's. She would go because Tracey asked her, but she didn't want to. Shaking the foreboding feeling from her head, she went into the house to change and head to the party. A quick outfit change, Holly wore a pair of khaki shorts, a navy short sleeve Henley, and a pair of Merrell sandals on her feet.
Working in her new position at the hospital for a couple weeks and developed relationships with most of the staff, EMT's and the volunteer emergency response teams from across the area. Holly thought the volunteers were the best. For little or no pay, they gave it their all on every call. Being new to the area, she started to carry a handheld radio for emergency responders. If she was going to live here, she could offer her services in case of an emergency. It wasn't like Baltimore where there were plenty of resources. She hooked the radio on her hip as she passed by the bedroom Wendy had been staying in. Yesterday, Zoey and Wendy headed out on a camping trip. Holly laughed if those two thought they were being sneaky, they had a lot to learn. Since the night at the restaurant, Wendy and Zoey became quick friends. A couple weeks separation while Wendy went home to work things out with her family had Zoey depressed. Since Wendy's return, the small blonde was bubbly and full of life again. Holly couldn't wait to see Wendy and tease her. Heck that was what big sister's did.
After a quick trip down the road, she pulled her car into Maxie's drive. Sensing a moment of déjà vu, she looked at her surroundings. The last time she was here, Maxie was drunker than a skunk and driving her Land Rover. The sand and sea grass hit the underside of the Honda, sounding like tiny bullets pinging off a target. Just as Holly went to get out of her car, Wendy and Zoey pulled in next to her. The teens smiled and waved.
"So how was camping?" Holly asked as Wendy popped out of the car to give her a hug. Stepping back to examine the large hicky on Wendy's neck, Holly reached out to touch the bruised skin. "Wow, mosquitoes are huge out here."
"Stop it. Jerk." Wendy brushed Holly's hand away. "I almost said I missed you."
"You got one too." Holly said as Zoey approached. The large purple mark on her neck resembled Wendy's. "You guys need bug spray."
"Ha! Ha! Doc, you crack me up. Not!" Zoey said as she looked out over the water. "This place is nice. Too bad Maxie's such a drunk."
"Zoey." Holly warned. She felt the same way the teenager did, but she acted like an adult.
"Come on Holly. That chick is wasted all the time." Zoey said as they watched the sun began to settle on the horizon. "I wouldn't go out on that boat with her driving."
Holly watched as the group of women began to get into Maxie's cruiser. She looked around for Piper's truck and didn't see it. Relief washed over her because she knew Tracey wouldn't be a passenger.
"Here comes Mel and Piper." Zoey waved at the two women in the approaching SUV. Holly glanced at the crowd of women packed on the boat. She squinted at the approaching truck looking for Tracey. Tracey was supposed to be with Vonnie and Mel.
"Hey guys. Where's Trace?" Holly didn't want to panic but when Mel opened the door, she and Vonnie were the only occupants of the car.
"Here. We went to town to get more ice. The ice maker here couldn't keep up with the demand." Vonnie said as she swung four bags of ice out of the truck bed.
"Come on Tracey, one last cruise around the bay. The good doctor won't be here for another hour." Maxie teased as she past Tracey on the way to the boat. Her hand lingered on Tracey's shoulder for a moment. "Are you happy?"
"I was so lost without her. I don't know what I did to get a second chance but I'm grateful for it." Maxie nodded but thought it was the doctor who should count herself lucky. Tracey was a keeper, a woman you wanted to have children with, grow old with. She'd bide her time and let Holly screw up. She did it once. Odds were the doctor would do it again.
The group ten women loaded into the twenty eight foot cabin cruiser. It was a bit tight, but Maxie like the feel of Tracey against her side. The sun casted a blinding glare off the water as the soft bubbling of the motor propelled the craft away from the dock. Maxie swung the boat around and tried to look for traffic. Traditionally, Labor Day had triple the number boats on the water. Maxie couldn't wait to open the throttle of the powerful engine on the open water. She tossed back a few drinks today, but it was her party after all.
Tracey took the spot between the two captain chairs against the windshield. She felt Maxie lean against her as she turned the wheel to head out into the Chesapeake.
Casually, she glanced back towards the house and saw Holly's car sitting at the top of the hill. Holly stood talking with Mel as Zoey, Wendy, and Piper tromped towards the house with bags of ice. Tracey didn't realize they were there when she got in the boat. She stood straight up straining to see the tall beautiful woman who captured her heart. A quick whistle called out to the boat as Holly signaled to the departing group.
"Maxie!" Tracey moved to the side of the boat closest to shore. "I'm going back." Tracey glanced around noting they were a hundred yards from shore. She placed a foot on the storage hole on the port side of the boat. Maxie looked at her as if she is crazy.
"I'll take you back in." Maxie complained as she turned the wheel. The last thing she wanted to do was return Tracey to shore and watch her and Holly make out. It made her sick that Tracey took her back without a second thought.
"I'll swim." Tracey said as she lifted her shirt off and threw it on the seat of the boat. Getting ready to jump into the water, she felt the boat surge forward.
On the shore, Holly looked across the water at Tracey standing in the boat. Her foot was propped up on the edge as if she were going to jump in. When the former teacher whipped off her shirt, Holly felt her knees go weak. The sight of Tracey wearing a bikini top sent Holly's mind into spinning. Before she went to work this morning, they had spent most of the night making love. The last twenty four hours were deeply embedded in her memory. Holding on to Tracey as she called her name out over and over, sent her blood pumping south. How could just the sight of the woman cause such a reaction?
Because I love her…. It was the simple truth. No matter what happened or what they had been through, Holly loved her. As Tracey stepped on to the side, she turned to speak to Maxie. Just as she was about to dive into the green water of the bay a blast of a horn filled the air.
Holly watched as Maxie's boat sped into the path of an oncoming speed boat. Instead of slowing down or swerving, it seemed as if Maxie notched the speed up and headed towards the boat.
"No!" The horrific scream filled the air. Holly knew the call came from someone. It wasn't until she could see the underside of the other boat. The fiber glass hull shot through the air and landed across the starboard side of Maxie's boat. Realizing at that time, the scream came from her.
The back of the cruiser buckled from the impact and began to sink in the awkwardly still water. The two boats lying on top of each other like children's toys, slowing sinking into the depths. If Holly didn't witness the accident, she would have never noticed Maxie's boat under the broken fiberglass pieces. Debris from both boats scattered across the top of the water. The air was eerily silent. Until the wind carried screams and smoke to the shore.
Grabbing the radio off her hip, Holly made a frantic call to the local station just as Piper, Zoey and Wendy rounded the corner of the house. Piper stopped Wendy shouting commands she sent the girl back to the house.
"Holly!" Piper shouted and shook her out of the shock. "We need you." Piper headed down the hill to the water. Running full speed off the dock, she dove into the water and came up twenty yards from the dock.
"Zoey…get a hold of Captain Kelly, Jerry, tell him we need the chopper…Level 1- eight to ten victims possible fatalities." She handed the small blonde the radio and took off towards the water.
All of her training was being tested at this moment. She was too close to this situation. She had never run into this in her life. Every trauma case she treated was a distant face, not a friend and certainly not a lover. The cold water instantly jolted her systems. The drop in temperature could either help or hurt. Breaking the surface of the water, she caught up with Piper as she pulled herself up on what was left of Maxie's boat. The body of a young man in his late twenties was strung across the stern of the cruiser his head impaled on a cleat. Piper puked at the sight.
"In the water look in the water!" The shout came from the neighbors who had journeyed to the end of their docks and into their boats after they witnessed the collision.
"Jesus…no!" Holly jumped over the side to the body which was sinking. She wrapped her arms around a body's waist kicking with all her might she shot to the surface. A number of boaters had come to aid. Holly managed to pass the woman to an older gentleman and a young boy who pulled her in, the man at the controls of the outboard headed to shore. They needed to get everyone out of the water and into shore so they would be cared for.
Another scream filled the air. Holly made her way to the spot where the boaters pointed. The sight of the Coast Guard boat was a relief. On the shore she watched as Zoey and Wendy had set up every flat surface they could find as make shift back boards. She watched as a lifeless body was placed on a back board and two men began to do CPR.
"Where else?" Holly treaded water. She tried to count the number of victims on the shore…eight. How many were there? She bobbed up and down in the water. Wanting desperately to know where Tracey was.
"Doctor Graham!" The EMT crew from the point called to her. "They need you on shore." The team fished her out of the water. "Life Flight is on the way. We need to get at least one critical to Jessup. Captain says you're riding shotgun!" The paramedic explained as they brought the doctor to shore.
Holly hit the beach and ran up the slope to the open doors of the EVR. The victim's dark hair was matted with debris and blood. The skin of her face was flapped over. There was no way to know who it was; female white, mid twenties to early thirties. A laceration from a sharp object slit her throat across the carotid artery. The EMT held pressure of the seeping artery. The panic in his eyes took the truth.
"What's ETA of the chopper?" Holly shouted to the bystanders.
"Five minutes" She closed her eyes and rolled her shoulders. They'd never make it to Baltimore.
"Listen to me honey…you need to stay strong, Slow down. We are gonna take care of you." She looked at the hands of patient hopping to for some recognize mark that would let her know if this was Tracey. No familiar signs, nothing, no scars, no tattoos. This still could be her lover.
Focus! Holly took a deep breath and went through the trauma steps. In the distance, she could hear the beating blades of the chopper. She had done this a thousand times. She needed to stabilize the patient. Don't think about Tracey, whoever this woman is, she needed Holly to save her life.
"She's got ten minutes maximum, Eddie." She told the pilot through the helmet mic. "Jessup, come in Jessup." Holly called to the trauma center. "Life Flight 4 to Jessup. Come in Jessup."
"Jessup to Life Flight 4, Go."
"Incoming, ETA nine minutes. Need eight units of blood, O-. Blunt trauma to multiple areas, significant damage to the carotid artery. Prep surgery, we're landing hot."
"Roger that LifeFlight4. We'll be waiting. Good to have you back Dr. Graham." The voice on the other end relayed.
"Hang on, I'm got an all clear from Air Traffic Control." Eddie called as he pushed the chopper towards Baltimore.
Within minutes, they were landing on the roof at Jessup. A dozen members of the staff lined the cat walk waiting for the all clear. Strapped to the back board, with an IV running from the back of her hand, the landing jolted the occupants. As soon as it was clear, Jessup's staff swarmed the chopper. The patient was lifted to a gurney on wheels and whisked inside and off to surgery. Holly had no idea what to do. She looked at the blood covering her gloved hands. She needed to find out if it was Tracey.
Following the gurney into the hospital, Holly stopped when the crew entered into the sanitary area. Holly waited outside the room waiting for an update on the patient's condition. Her brown eyes swept the familiar surroundings of Jessup's treatment center. The next few minutes could decide the fate of the patient in the trauma room. Sighing she leaned against the wall.
"You okay Dr. Graham?" Rollin's voice penetrated her thoughts. Looking up she saw the ebony skinned nurse. Holly felt her walls begin to crumble. She shook her head and fell into Rollins comforting arms. Tears fell for the woman she brought to the hospital. Tears fell for Tracey and the fate of the victims of the boat wreck. The world around her went black as she slumped to the floor.
"Ouch…" She rubbed her elbow.
"Holly…" The woman's sleep filled voice called out. "Hey baby!" Tracey stood up and came to Holly's side. Holly forgot about the pain and grabbed a hold of Tracey. Pulling the brunette on top of her Holly held her tight and kissed her. Not ever wanting to let go of the former teacher, Holly finally lifted her lips away.
"Oh my god. I thought it was you." Holly cried as she hide her face in Tracey's hair. "There was so much blood, I couldn't tell. I didn't want to know." She confessed as she pressed her lips against Tracey's neck.
"I'm fine." Tracey cooed as she kissed Holly back.
"I saw you on the boat and then there was such a mess." Holly ran her hands over Tracey body making sure she was okay. Tracey leaned back and placed her hand on Holly's cheek.
"A little bumped and bruised, but I was thrown clear. I dove in before the impact. I grabbed a person and swam her to safety. It was crazy at the scene. I was just grateful I knew where you were."
"Who was on the chopper?" Holly asked as she watched the tears form in Tracey's eyes.
"It was Maxie." Tracey's face fell as she thought about her friend. "She didn't make it."
"Oh Jesus. I'm so sorry honey." Holly wiped a falling tear.
"I know you did what you could. She died in surgery." Tracey pushed Holly back against the mattress. She wrapped her arms around her waist and placed her head on Holly's chest. "It could have been anyone. Maxie was standing at the wheel. According to the investigator, it appears she was hit by the other boat." Holly felt the tears against her chest. She wrapped her arms around Tracey tighter. She had differences with Maxie but she never thought the woman would die.
"She was a good friend of yours." Holly said. "Does Vonnie know?"
"Yes, she and Mel drove me here. It took a little longer than a helicopter ride. I needed to see you. I wanted to make sure you knew I was okay."
"Thank you." Holly felt the tears in her eyes and her throat constrict. "I did. I don't know what I would have done if something happen to you."
"Nothing happened so you don't have to worry about it. I promised you nothing would ever come between us again."
"You did, didn't you?" Although Holly couldn't see Tracey, she could hear the smile in her voice. "Don't want to break your word, Dr. Graham."
"It would break my heart to lose you again." Holly kissed the top of her head.
"You're never gonna loose me. In fact, you're stuck with me for the rest of your life."
"The best thing I've heard all night."
"I love you."
"I love you to."
The End.
Thanks to everyone who has followed this story. It's been a journey. If you like the story please let me know. If you don't you shouldn't have read the entire thing …..
Take care and I promise only to post entire stories. This pieces part thing is for the birds.
Catherine Burke