Perfect Timing, page 8
She sank into one of the chairs next to Heather. “I was just thinking.”
Heather’s eyebrows pulled together. “About what?”
Maybe Heather could offer some advice. Lynn certainly hadn’t been giving herself much that did any good. “If you had the chance to capture an opportunity you thought was long gone, would you?”
“I’m assuming we’re talking relationship here,” Heather said as she sipped her coffee.
She nodded. “Yes.”
“Was it a good one?” Heather asked.
“I don’t know. I didn’t explore it. I wasn’t at a place in my life where I could let it happen, but I think it might have been.”
“Then hell, yes.” Heather didn’t mince words. She was always straight with people even when it wasn’t easy, which came along with being in medicine.
She took in a deep breath and blew it out slowly.
“I expected more of a happy response,” Heather said.
“It’s really complicated.” So many factors filled her head: age, career, Carrie. The impact on Carrie would be huge and was her main concern.
“Tell me about her.” Heather raised her eyebrows and smiled. “Maybe I can help you figure it out.”
She tried to calm the butterflies swarming her stomach. “She’s sweet and beautiful, and smart.”
“Have you told her that?”
“No. She can’t know I have feelings for her because that will open a door I don’t think I can close.” She took in a deep breath. “I don’t have the strength.”
Heather looked at her thoughtfully. “Do you really have to close it?”
“She’s so much younger than me.” It didn’t feel like they were different ages when Maggie was near or when they talked, but the reality was still there.
Heather took another sip of coffee and licked the tiny residual drops from her upper lip. “How much younger?”
“Eight, maybe nine years.” It was twelve, but for some reason she couldn’t bring herself to say the number.
“That’s nothing. Pam and I are almost nine years apart. If you have feelings for her and she has feelings for you, does that really make a difference?”
“But you two met after your careers were set. She’s just starting hers.”
“Oh. I gotcha.” Heather chuckled and pulled her lip up to one side. “She’s an intern. The forbidden fruit.” She glanced over at Lynn. “Well, not for you.” The rules were different for nurses than for doctors, but such relationships were still frowned upon, and the rumor mill would take it and run the full-mile track.
She nodded. “She really kind of is. I’ve known her since she was in college. She’s Carrie’s best friend.”
Heather’s eyebrows rose. “Ack. That is a complication.”
“Right?” She shook her head. “I don’t know how Carrie would handle it, and if she doesn’t react well, it could throw all our lives into turmoil. I’ve already had enough of that in my life.” It would be complicated at best. She worried that Carrie might perceive the relationship as Lynn loving Maggie more than she loved her. But that was silly. They were totally different kinds of love, and she could never replace one of them with the other.
Heather stared at her thoughtfully. “But you really want to be with her, don’t you?”
Was she really that transparent? She sighed. “Yes. It’s hard to see her every day and not want her.”
“Does said intern want it too?”
“It seems like it.”
“Then I say, go ahead. Carrie loves you. She’ll get over it eventually.” Heather always had a way of cutting through the crap.
“My life is good right now, stable. This would really complicate it.”
Heather reached over and touched her hand. “You’ve already had one shitty marriage. Do you want to settle for stable?”
She looked up, saw the concern in Heather’s eyes, and thought about Maggie. Her heart raced and she shook her head. “No.”
The screen door slapped open, and Pam appeared with the coffee decanter and stared at Heather. Lynn watched the look they exchanged. The unspoken zap between them was unmistakable, and the way they knew exactly what each other needed was uncanny. She’d never had that with Beth and wasn’t sure she’d ever have it with anyone. Maybe it would be possible with Maggie.
Pam smiled, then veered her gaze to Lynn. “Whatcha talking about?”
“Work.”
“I know that’s not true. Heather shuts that down immediately when we’re here.”
“People at work.”
“Oh, the intern,” Pam said, and Heather lifted an eyebrow.
“You sent her out here to talk about it.” Lynn shook her head. It wasn’t like it was a secret, but Pam could’ve at least let her know she’d told Heather.
Heather rolled her eyes. “Don’t be upset. I didn’t know the particulars. I only knew there was someone.”
“It’s okay. I appreciate the opinion from a non-biased party.” She leaned forward and stared at Pam. “That one is already planning my wedding.”
“She’s a hopeless romantic,” Heather said.
“And a fine wedding it will be.” Pam circled Heather and refilled Lynn’s cup with coffee. “You know I don’t keep anything from Heather, and it was sort of necessary since she thinks I’m your girlfriend.”
“I’m sorry. She just assumed, and I let her.” It was the easiest way for Lynn to make sure Maggie kept her distance.
“That doesn’t bother me in the slightest. It just makes you hotter.” Heather bounced her eyebrows at Pam as she held up her cup for Pam to fill.
“Hey. I just want you to get your happily-ever-after, exactly like us.” Pam filled Heather’s cup and then looped her hand around the back of Heather’s neck and kissed her fully on the lips. The steaminess that existed between them made Lynn look away. Their chemistry was off the charts, and on more than one occasion Lynn felt the need to leave them alone to explore it.
“Good morning, love,” Heather said softly as she stared into Pam’s eyes.
“Good morning.” Pam let her hand trail from Heather’s cheek down her neck and across her shoulder. “We’ll discuss that ‘hotter’ comment tonight.”
Lynn gave them a backhanded wave. “Please go. Discuss it now if you must.”
They both chuckled. “No. We’re good. We did that before the sun came up.”
She shook her head and smiled. “You two.” What she wouldn’t give to be in love like that. Maybe Heather was right. Maybe something with Maggie was possible after all. She’d know only if she let Maggie into her heart and gave it a shot.
After Pam returned the decanter to the kitchen, she came out and sat next to Heather. “Jackie called. They’re not coming.”
“What? Why not?”
“Jen is close to eight months and isn’t up for the drive. Especially with the kids.”
“Well, shit.” Heather let out a huge sigh. “If I’d known, we could’ve picked up the kids and given them some alone time. I was really looking forward to seeing them and taking them out on the boat.”
Pam took Heather’s hand and squeezed it. “We’ll get there, honey.”
Lynn saw the sadness in Heather’s eyes and knew immediately what she was thinking about. They hadn’t had any luck on their last round of in-vitro fertilization, and that was their second try. Lynn wished she could make it easier for them, because the disappointment was crushing. IVF treatments were more successful than ever these days, but the odds of getting pregnant were low to begin with for someone in their twenties or thirties, and Pam was close to forty. Heather was the older of the two, which was why they’d decided Pam would carry the child. That and she embraced the experience more than Heather had. Heather loved kids of any age and, from the start, was good with adopting, but knowing how hard it was to find a baby for adoption, Pam wanted to try IVF first. They’d recently completed everything necessary to become foster parents and had been approved, but hadn’t acted on it yet. Forming a bond with a child and then having the birth parents change their minds wasn’t a blow Heather wanted to experience.
“What about Terra and Jo?” Heather asked, seeming to want to move away from the subject.
“Nope. Jo just started a new job and has to work. She asked if maybe we could set up another one of these in a few months.” Pam sipped her coffee. “I told her we’d have to look at our schedules.”
“You up for that, Lynn?”
“Sure. I’m always up for this place. I love it here.” It was so peaceful and serene. When she was here, she seemed to always be able to let go of the outside world. Except this time, she couldn’t seem to get Maggie out of her mind.
“Maybe you can bring the intern.” Pam winked.
“So are you two going to tell me the intern’s name?” Heather smiled at Pam and then looked back at Lynn. “I mean, I’d hate to blow your cover.” That wasn’t likely to happen, since Heather was a partner in a family practice that resided in a separate building from the main hospital. She kept up with who was on staff but only frequented the hospital if and when one of her patients was admitted.
“Maggie Randall.”
“Hmm.” Heather tightened her lips. “Definitely beautiful and seems to be smart as well.”
“You know her?”
“She treated one of my asthma kids a couple of weekends ago. She was thorough and did all the right things.” Heather drank down the rest of her coffee. “You could do worse.” She stood. “Anyone up for pancakes?”
“Always.” Pam pushed out of her chair.
“I’m in,” Lynn said and followed them inside. Heather’s assessment of Maggie didn’t appear to be clouded by Lynn’s feelings, which lessened her anxiety for the moment. Her life had been uncomplicated until now, and suddenly she had Maggie to consider. So many thoughts were running through her head. Maggie wanted to be a pediatrician, so she’d want children, but Lynn had already raised her child. Was she too old to go through it all again? Would she be able to trust Maggie not to leave all the parenting to her the way Beth did? She didn’t have answers to any of these questions, and until she did, she couldn’t move forward in any way with Maggie.
Chapter Nine
Maggie felt like she’d been asleep for only a few minutes when she heard the bedroom door swing open. She opened one eye to see Stacy staring at Carrie, her face turning redder by the second.
“Oh, shit. Sorry,” Stacy said when she made eye contact and started to back out of the room.
“It’s all right. What’s up?”
“I need some Russell advice.” Stacy tilted her head to get a better look at Carrie. “Who’s that? What about—”
“Shh.” Maggie held her finger to her lips and glanced over Carrie’s shoulder to see if she was awake. “I’ll come out.” She slipped out of bed and pulled on her hoodie as she crossed the room. Then she glanced back to see if Carrie was awake before she went out into the living room.
“What’s up?”
“Who’s that in your bed?”
“My friend, Carrie.” She rubbed her eyes, trying to clear the fog from her mind, and rounded the corner into the kitchen.
“Carrie is cute. Where’d you meet her?”
“College. She was my roommate.”
Stacy was right behind her. “You didn’t tell me you had a thing with anyone from college.”
“I didn’t. I don’t.” She looked at the clock on the oven—seven a.m. “Did you just get home?” she asked as she filled the coffeemaker with water.
“Yes, and don’t change the subject. Why is your college roommate in your bed spooned into you?”
She could practically feel Stacy’s eyes boring into her back. “I need caffeine,” she said as she scooped a few spoonfuls of coffee into the maker and pushed the start button. Once the coffee was brewing, she leaned against the counter. “Because you live in the other bedroom and she was cold. She’s my best friend and also Lynn’s daughter.”
Stacy’s eyes went wide. “Oh, shit.”
“Exactly.”
“Did you tell her how you feel about Lynn?” Stacy lowered her voice.
“No, but you almost did.” She lowered her voice to match Stacy’s. “You need to think before you talk, here and at work.” Stacy had a bad habit of saying things out loud before she fully processed them in her head. Not the best thing when dealing with sick people already upset by the circumstances they’d been stricken with.
“Sorry. I’m working on that. It surprised me.”
“Me too.” She chuckled. “She just showed up last night. I had no idea she was coming.”
“Did she come to see Lynn?”
“Nope. Apparently Lynn’s out of town having all kinds of fun with Pam and a few other women. It’s some annual trip they take.” The coffeemaker beeped, and she took a couple of cups from the cabinet.
“Feeling left out, are we? A little jealous, maybe?” Stacy had been teasing her nonstop since she’d told her about her feelings for Lynn.
“Shut up.” She poured herself a cup of coffee and jammed the decanter back into the machine. She was ridiculously jealous right now and didn’t know how to get past it. She needed to accept the fact that Lynn was with someone else, an admittedly sweet woman who seemed to make her happy. Why couldn’t she just be good with that? She wanted Lynn to be happy, right? She really did, only Maggie wanted to be the other half of that happiness. “So what was so important that you had to wake me at the crack of dawn?”
“Russell.”
She rolled her eyes. “Russell is not an emergency.”
“He wants to take me to dinner tonight.” The excitement in Stacy’s voice wasn’t unusual, but this time it was different.
“Where?” Dinner was dinner, but the location would set the mood for the evening.
“An Italian place near the hospital he wants to try.”
Carrie appeared from around the corner. “If it’s Dino’s, you’re his buddy. If it’s La Scala, then ooh la la. Be ready for some action,” she said and bounced her eyebrows as she came into the kitchen. “But they’re both good.”
Stacy’s face broke into a huge smile. “It’s La Scala.”
“Nice,” Carrie said as she got a mug and poured herself a cup of coffee. “I’m Carrie, by the way, and you must be Stacy.”
Stacy nodded.
“Are you off tomorrow?”
Stacy nodded again. “We both are.”
“Well, then you’d better get some rest. It sounds like you have a big night ahead of you.” Maggie winked. “Whatever you do, don’t bring him back here. I don’t want to hear any of that going on in there.” She pointed toward Stacy’s bedroom.
Carrie leaned against the counter and blew on her coffee. “You should take that chickie you’re interested in there. I’ve been there a few times. Believe me when I say it’s a sure win.”
Stacy’s eyes widened. “You should. I bet she’d love it.”
“So, you know who Maggie’s crushing on?”
“I do.” Stacy nodded rapidly. “At least I think I do, and she’s awesome.”
The look Carrie gave Maggie was nothing short of devious as she stood between her and Stacy and said, “Tell me more.”
“I already told you she’s a doctor and involved with someone else.” Maggie looked over Carrie’s shoulder and narrowed her eyes at Stacy.
Coffee spilled onto Carrie’s hand, and she hissed as she spun around and said, “You, shut it. I want an impartial opinion from Stacy.” She reached for a kitchen towel and then spun back around. “Is this woman involved with someone else?”
She could see Stacy’s throat move as she swallowed. “She appears to be, but that’s not confirmed.”
“Does she wear a wedding ring?”
“No ring,” Stacy said.
Carrie glanced over her shoulder at Maggie and raised an eyebrow. “Well, then what are you waiting for?”
She needed to head this discussion off before Stacy got flustered and spilled the beans. “A lot of doctors don’t wear jewelry.”
“And a lot of doctors do.”
“Right?” Stacy’s eyes went wide. “That’s what I’ve been telling her.”
The sigh that escaped her lips wasn’t intentional, but it was huge. “Honestly, I’m not ready to make my life awkward on the daily. If she’s married, that’s guaranteed.”
Carrie shrugged. “She’d probably just be flattered.”
“You can always do what you told me to do,” Stacy said to Maggie.
“What’s that?” Carrie asked.
“Be present all the time, but not annoying. She’ll notice you.”
Maggie chuckled. “That’s horrible advice. Did I really tell you that?”
Carrie laughed along with her. “Definitely horrible advice, but it’ll keep you in her thoughts one way or another. She’ll either fall in heavy like with you, or you’ll annoy the fuck out of her.” She drank the last of her coffee, put her cup in the sink, and pulled open the refrigerator. After rummaging through the minimal contents she said, “I’m starving. Let’s get some breakfast.” She headed out of the kitchen. “Stace, you want to come?” Carrie spoke as though she’d known Stacy forever. She was good about making people feel comfortable, a trait of a great doctor in the making.
“Thanks, but I’m going to bed.” Stacy smiled at Maggie. “I have a date tonight,” she said as she pushed away from counter and dance-walked her way across the apartment to her room.
Maybe she should take her own advice. It seemed to have worked for Stacy. She’d definitely have to turn on the flirty charm she’d engaged in the past regularly before her mind became a vault of medical knowledge. If she remembered how.
Chapter Ten
The days away at the cabin had been good for Lynn. She’d organized her thoughts and, with a little help from Heather and Pam, realized relationships didn’t have to be so complicated. She’d been overthinking the whole thing. Every worst scenario had been swirling in her head from the first moment she’d seen Maggie again. Well, no more of that. Today was the start of a new chapter in her life, and it might very well contain a little happiness, which might just be Maggie.
Heather’s eyebrows pulled together. “About what?”
Maybe Heather could offer some advice. Lynn certainly hadn’t been giving herself much that did any good. “If you had the chance to capture an opportunity you thought was long gone, would you?”
“I’m assuming we’re talking relationship here,” Heather said as she sipped her coffee.
She nodded. “Yes.”
“Was it a good one?” Heather asked.
“I don’t know. I didn’t explore it. I wasn’t at a place in my life where I could let it happen, but I think it might have been.”
“Then hell, yes.” Heather didn’t mince words. She was always straight with people even when it wasn’t easy, which came along with being in medicine.
She took in a deep breath and blew it out slowly.
“I expected more of a happy response,” Heather said.
“It’s really complicated.” So many factors filled her head: age, career, Carrie. The impact on Carrie would be huge and was her main concern.
“Tell me about her.” Heather raised her eyebrows and smiled. “Maybe I can help you figure it out.”
She tried to calm the butterflies swarming her stomach. “She’s sweet and beautiful, and smart.”
“Have you told her that?”
“No. She can’t know I have feelings for her because that will open a door I don’t think I can close.” She took in a deep breath. “I don’t have the strength.”
Heather looked at her thoughtfully. “Do you really have to close it?”
“She’s so much younger than me.” It didn’t feel like they were different ages when Maggie was near or when they talked, but the reality was still there.
Heather took another sip of coffee and licked the tiny residual drops from her upper lip. “How much younger?”
“Eight, maybe nine years.” It was twelve, but for some reason she couldn’t bring herself to say the number.
“That’s nothing. Pam and I are almost nine years apart. If you have feelings for her and she has feelings for you, does that really make a difference?”
“But you two met after your careers were set. She’s just starting hers.”
“Oh. I gotcha.” Heather chuckled and pulled her lip up to one side. “She’s an intern. The forbidden fruit.” She glanced over at Lynn. “Well, not for you.” The rules were different for nurses than for doctors, but such relationships were still frowned upon, and the rumor mill would take it and run the full-mile track.
She nodded. “She really kind of is. I’ve known her since she was in college. She’s Carrie’s best friend.”
Heather’s eyebrows rose. “Ack. That is a complication.”
“Right?” She shook her head. “I don’t know how Carrie would handle it, and if she doesn’t react well, it could throw all our lives into turmoil. I’ve already had enough of that in my life.” It would be complicated at best. She worried that Carrie might perceive the relationship as Lynn loving Maggie more than she loved her. But that was silly. They were totally different kinds of love, and she could never replace one of them with the other.
Heather stared at her thoughtfully. “But you really want to be with her, don’t you?”
Was she really that transparent? She sighed. “Yes. It’s hard to see her every day and not want her.”
“Does said intern want it too?”
“It seems like it.”
“Then I say, go ahead. Carrie loves you. She’ll get over it eventually.” Heather always had a way of cutting through the crap.
“My life is good right now, stable. This would really complicate it.”
Heather reached over and touched her hand. “You’ve already had one shitty marriage. Do you want to settle for stable?”
She looked up, saw the concern in Heather’s eyes, and thought about Maggie. Her heart raced and she shook her head. “No.”
The screen door slapped open, and Pam appeared with the coffee decanter and stared at Heather. Lynn watched the look they exchanged. The unspoken zap between them was unmistakable, and the way they knew exactly what each other needed was uncanny. She’d never had that with Beth and wasn’t sure she’d ever have it with anyone. Maybe it would be possible with Maggie.
Pam smiled, then veered her gaze to Lynn. “Whatcha talking about?”
“Work.”
“I know that’s not true. Heather shuts that down immediately when we’re here.”
“People at work.”
“Oh, the intern,” Pam said, and Heather lifted an eyebrow.
“You sent her out here to talk about it.” Lynn shook her head. It wasn’t like it was a secret, but Pam could’ve at least let her know she’d told Heather.
Heather rolled her eyes. “Don’t be upset. I didn’t know the particulars. I only knew there was someone.”
“It’s okay. I appreciate the opinion from a non-biased party.” She leaned forward and stared at Pam. “That one is already planning my wedding.”
“She’s a hopeless romantic,” Heather said.
“And a fine wedding it will be.” Pam circled Heather and refilled Lynn’s cup with coffee. “You know I don’t keep anything from Heather, and it was sort of necessary since she thinks I’m your girlfriend.”
“I’m sorry. She just assumed, and I let her.” It was the easiest way for Lynn to make sure Maggie kept her distance.
“That doesn’t bother me in the slightest. It just makes you hotter.” Heather bounced her eyebrows at Pam as she held up her cup for Pam to fill.
“Hey. I just want you to get your happily-ever-after, exactly like us.” Pam filled Heather’s cup and then looped her hand around the back of Heather’s neck and kissed her fully on the lips. The steaminess that existed between them made Lynn look away. Their chemistry was off the charts, and on more than one occasion Lynn felt the need to leave them alone to explore it.
“Good morning, love,” Heather said softly as she stared into Pam’s eyes.
“Good morning.” Pam let her hand trail from Heather’s cheek down her neck and across her shoulder. “We’ll discuss that ‘hotter’ comment tonight.”
Lynn gave them a backhanded wave. “Please go. Discuss it now if you must.”
They both chuckled. “No. We’re good. We did that before the sun came up.”
She shook her head and smiled. “You two.” What she wouldn’t give to be in love like that. Maybe Heather was right. Maybe something with Maggie was possible after all. She’d know only if she let Maggie into her heart and gave it a shot.
After Pam returned the decanter to the kitchen, she came out and sat next to Heather. “Jackie called. They’re not coming.”
“What? Why not?”
“Jen is close to eight months and isn’t up for the drive. Especially with the kids.”
“Well, shit.” Heather let out a huge sigh. “If I’d known, we could’ve picked up the kids and given them some alone time. I was really looking forward to seeing them and taking them out on the boat.”
Pam took Heather’s hand and squeezed it. “We’ll get there, honey.”
Lynn saw the sadness in Heather’s eyes and knew immediately what she was thinking about. They hadn’t had any luck on their last round of in-vitro fertilization, and that was their second try. Lynn wished she could make it easier for them, because the disappointment was crushing. IVF treatments were more successful than ever these days, but the odds of getting pregnant were low to begin with for someone in their twenties or thirties, and Pam was close to forty. Heather was the older of the two, which was why they’d decided Pam would carry the child. That and she embraced the experience more than Heather had. Heather loved kids of any age and, from the start, was good with adopting, but knowing how hard it was to find a baby for adoption, Pam wanted to try IVF first. They’d recently completed everything necessary to become foster parents and had been approved, but hadn’t acted on it yet. Forming a bond with a child and then having the birth parents change their minds wasn’t a blow Heather wanted to experience.
“What about Terra and Jo?” Heather asked, seeming to want to move away from the subject.
“Nope. Jo just started a new job and has to work. She asked if maybe we could set up another one of these in a few months.” Pam sipped her coffee. “I told her we’d have to look at our schedules.”
“You up for that, Lynn?”
“Sure. I’m always up for this place. I love it here.” It was so peaceful and serene. When she was here, she seemed to always be able to let go of the outside world. Except this time, she couldn’t seem to get Maggie out of her mind.
“Maybe you can bring the intern.” Pam winked.
“So are you two going to tell me the intern’s name?” Heather smiled at Pam and then looked back at Lynn. “I mean, I’d hate to blow your cover.” That wasn’t likely to happen, since Heather was a partner in a family practice that resided in a separate building from the main hospital. She kept up with who was on staff but only frequented the hospital if and when one of her patients was admitted.
“Maggie Randall.”
“Hmm.” Heather tightened her lips. “Definitely beautiful and seems to be smart as well.”
“You know her?”
“She treated one of my asthma kids a couple of weekends ago. She was thorough and did all the right things.” Heather drank down the rest of her coffee. “You could do worse.” She stood. “Anyone up for pancakes?”
“Always.” Pam pushed out of her chair.
“I’m in,” Lynn said and followed them inside. Heather’s assessment of Maggie didn’t appear to be clouded by Lynn’s feelings, which lessened her anxiety for the moment. Her life had been uncomplicated until now, and suddenly she had Maggie to consider. So many thoughts were running through her head. Maggie wanted to be a pediatrician, so she’d want children, but Lynn had already raised her child. Was she too old to go through it all again? Would she be able to trust Maggie not to leave all the parenting to her the way Beth did? She didn’t have answers to any of these questions, and until she did, she couldn’t move forward in any way with Maggie.
Chapter Nine
Maggie felt like she’d been asleep for only a few minutes when she heard the bedroom door swing open. She opened one eye to see Stacy staring at Carrie, her face turning redder by the second.
“Oh, shit. Sorry,” Stacy said when she made eye contact and started to back out of the room.
“It’s all right. What’s up?”
“I need some Russell advice.” Stacy tilted her head to get a better look at Carrie. “Who’s that? What about—”
“Shh.” Maggie held her finger to her lips and glanced over Carrie’s shoulder to see if she was awake. “I’ll come out.” She slipped out of bed and pulled on her hoodie as she crossed the room. Then she glanced back to see if Carrie was awake before she went out into the living room.
“What’s up?”
“Who’s that in your bed?”
“My friend, Carrie.” She rubbed her eyes, trying to clear the fog from her mind, and rounded the corner into the kitchen.
“Carrie is cute. Where’d you meet her?”
“College. She was my roommate.”
Stacy was right behind her. “You didn’t tell me you had a thing with anyone from college.”
“I didn’t. I don’t.” She looked at the clock on the oven—seven a.m. “Did you just get home?” she asked as she filled the coffeemaker with water.
“Yes, and don’t change the subject. Why is your college roommate in your bed spooned into you?”
She could practically feel Stacy’s eyes boring into her back. “I need caffeine,” she said as she scooped a few spoonfuls of coffee into the maker and pushed the start button. Once the coffee was brewing, she leaned against the counter. “Because you live in the other bedroom and she was cold. She’s my best friend and also Lynn’s daughter.”
Stacy’s eyes went wide. “Oh, shit.”
“Exactly.”
“Did you tell her how you feel about Lynn?” Stacy lowered her voice.
“No, but you almost did.” She lowered her voice to match Stacy’s. “You need to think before you talk, here and at work.” Stacy had a bad habit of saying things out loud before she fully processed them in her head. Not the best thing when dealing with sick people already upset by the circumstances they’d been stricken with.
“Sorry. I’m working on that. It surprised me.”
“Me too.” She chuckled. “She just showed up last night. I had no idea she was coming.”
“Did she come to see Lynn?”
“Nope. Apparently Lynn’s out of town having all kinds of fun with Pam and a few other women. It’s some annual trip they take.” The coffeemaker beeped, and she took a couple of cups from the cabinet.
“Feeling left out, are we? A little jealous, maybe?” Stacy had been teasing her nonstop since she’d told her about her feelings for Lynn.
“Shut up.” She poured herself a cup of coffee and jammed the decanter back into the machine. She was ridiculously jealous right now and didn’t know how to get past it. She needed to accept the fact that Lynn was with someone else, an admittedly sweet woman who seemed to make her happy. Why couldn’t she just be good with that? She wanted Lynn to be happy, right? She really did, only Maggie wanted to be the other half of that happiness. “So what was so important that you had to wake me at the crack of dawn?”
“Russell.”
She rolled her eyes. “Russell is not an emergency.”
“He wants to take me to dinner tonight.” The excitement in Stacy’s voice wasn’t unusual, but this time it was different.
“Where?” Dinner was dinner, but the location would set the mood for the evening.
“An Italian place near the hospital he wants to try.”
Carrie appeared from around the corner. “If it’s Dino’s, you’re his buddy. If it’s La Scala, then ooh la la. Be ready for some action,” she said and bounced her eyebrows as she came into the kitchen. “But they’re both good.”
Stacy’s face broke into a huge smile. “It’s La Scala.”
“Nice,” Carrie said as she got a mug and poured herself a cup of coffee. “I’m Carrie, by the way, and you must be Stacy.”
Stacy nodded.
“Are you off tomorrow?”
Stacy nodded again. “We both are.”
“Well, then you’d better get some rest. It sounds like you have a big night ahead of you.” Maggie winked. “Whatever you do, don’t bring him back here. I don’t want to hear any of that going on in there.” She pointed toward Stacy’s bedroom.
Carrie leaned against the counter and blew on her coffee. “You should take that chickie you’re interested in there. I’ve been there a few times. Believe me when I say it’s a sure win.”
Stacy’s eyes widened. “You should. I bet she’d love it.”
“So, you know who Maggie’s crushing on?”
“I do.” Stacy nodded rapidly. “At least I think I do, and she’s awesome.”
The look Carrie gave Maggie was nothing short of devious as she stood between her and Stacy and said, “Tell me more.”
“I already told you she’s a doctor and involved with someone else.” Maggie looked over Carrie’s shoulder and narrowed her eyes at Stacy.
Coffee spilled onto Carrie’s hand, and she hissed as she spun around and said, “You, shut it. I want an impartial opinion from Stacy.” She reached for a kitchen towel and then spun back around. “Is this woman involved with someone else?”
She could see Stacy’s throat move as she swallowed. “She appears to be, but that’s not confirmed.”
“Does she wear a wedding ring?”
“No ring,” Stacy said.
Carrie glanced over her shoulder at Maggie and raised an eyebrow. “Well, then what are you waiting for?”
She needed to head this discussion off before Stacy got flustered and spilled the beans. “A lot of doctors don’t wear jewelry.”
“And a lot of doctors do.”
“Right?” Stacy’s eyes went wide. “That’s what I’ve been telling her.”
The sigh that escaped her lips wasn’t intentional, but it was huge. “Honestly, I’m not ready to make my life awkward on the daily. If she’s married, that’s guaranteed.”
Carrie shrugged. “She’d probably just be flattered.”
“You can always do what you told me to do,” Stacy said to Maggie.
“What’s that?” Carrie asked.
“Be present all the time, but not annoying. She’ll notice you.”
Maggie chuckled. “That’s horrible advice. Did I really tell you that?”
Carrie laughed along with her. “Definitely horrible advice, but it’ll keep you in her thoughts one way or another. She’ll either fall in heavy like with you, or you’ll annoy the fuck out of her.” She drank the last of her coffee, put her cup in the sink, and pulled open the refrigerator. After rummaging through the minimal contents she said, “I’m starving. Let’s get some breakfast.” She headed out of the kitchen. “Stace, you want to come?” Carrie spoke as though she’d known Stacy forever. She was good about making people feel comfortable, a trait of a great doctor in the making.
“Thanks, but I’m going to bed.” Stacy smiled at Maggie. “I have a date tonight,” she said as she pushed away from counter and dance-walked her way across the apartment to her room.
Maybe she should take her own advice. It seemed to have worked for Stacy. She’d definitely have to turn on the flirty charm she’d engaged in the past regularly before her mind became a vault of medical knowledge. If she remembered how.
Chapter Ten
The days away at the cabin had been good for Lynn. She’d organized her thoughts and, with a little help from Heather and Pam, realized relationships didn’t have to be so complicated. She’d been overthinking the whole thing. Every worst scenario had been swirling in her head from the first moment she’d seen Maggie again. Well, no more of that. Today was the start of a new chapter in her life, and it might very well contain a little happiness, which might just be Maggie.
