◆◆◆
Kellan didn’t call her friends upon her return. Maybe that made her a bad person, but she wasn’t ready to see anyone. She wanted to take care of everything she had to in the city so she could get back to Tahoe in three weeks and, more importantly, get back to Reese. She’d been back for a week already, and she’d kept her promise to Reese. She’d texted and called. They’d talked on the phone nightly and video chatted whenever possible. Kellan wanted evidence that Reese was indeed improving and was happy to see that the bandage on Reese’s head was gone and her stitches had been removed. Reese had also gone to the doctor twice, as ordered, and had only good news to report.
Kellan missed her like crazy. She found work helped to keep her mind on her patients and not on Reese, but getting back into things at the clinic and going home to her apartment every night just didn’t feel right anymore. She’d decided to work the weekend to help keep her mind off things and to prevent the temptation to go see Reese from taking over. She was worried she’d pack a bag and hit the road. Reese was still healing though, and Kellan had things to take care of.
Her sister joined her for dinner Sunday night, which was out of the ordinary, but Kellan suspected her parents had asked Katie to check on her. They weren’t a close family, but they were still blood. Kellan had welcomed the visit, though, because she had something she wanted to talk to Katie about and felt it would be best in person. Now that Katie was out of school and looking for a job, it seemed like the timing was right for this conversation.
She listened to Katie talk about the night she met her boyfriend, Gordon, and saw her eyes light up. She listened as her sister talked until it was her turn. Then, she filled Katie in on Reese. She mentioned working for Dr. Sanders and enjoying the experience. Then she got to the thing she wanted to talk to her sister about. If Katie said no, Kellan would still figure it all out. But Katie saying yes would make things a lot easier and would allow Kellan to bring her plan to fruition faster.
Her entire life leading to her trip to Tahoe had been in slow motion. She’d done all the right things. She’d gone to school, had friends, and even girlfriends. She’d graduated and gone to work before going back to vet school when she’d been able to afford it. All of that mattered, but it wasn’t until she arrived in Tahoe and met Reese Lee that her life finally felt like it had real meaning. She wanted fast motion now, and she hoped it would all work out the way she wanted and needed it to.
CHAPTER 31
“Your test results are good, Reese. I think we can safely say you’re in the clear. Your infection is gone, your cut has healed nicely. You’ll have only a small scar, which is great news,” her doctor told her after her exam.
“That is great news,” she agreed as she sat in the chair off to the side of the exam table.
“I understand you wanted to talk about something else too,” she said as she sat on the stool and wheeled closer to her.
“That trial you’ve mentioned before? Is there still a chance I can get in?”
“I believe so. I’d have to contact the specialist to confirm. But your condition is so rare, they tend to jump at the chance to have more participants. I thought you weren’t interested.”
“Recent events had me thinking about things.”
“Your fall?” she guessed.
“The consequences from it, mainly.”
“You know this might not make a difference?”
“I do, yes,” Reese told her. “I think I should try something. If there’s a chance it might work, it could help me know when I’ve hurt myself, right?”
“That’s the idea.” The doctor sighed. “You know it means you’d be able to feel pain. If it works, you will feel when you hurt yourself. That’s both good and bad.”
“I know. It’s one of the reasons I didn’t want to do it before,” she admitted. “I was afraid. Most people don’t even worry about this stuff, and I’m worried about a paper cut. I’ve never felt when I got one, but I’ve seen others get them. And their initial reaction is always one of pain.” She laughed lightly. “It’s so silly, but I’m afraid of feeling what that’s like.”
“I’ve had a few in my day. It’s not too bad.” The doctor shrugged.
“I’d like to start as soon as possible. I don’t know what I need to do.”
“I’ll make a few calls and get you in the group. Keep in mind that this is a clinical trial. That means there’s a control group and a placebo.”
“So, I might not even get the real deal,” Reese remembered the specialist’s statements from their video call. “I know.”
“And you’ll be required to do work. You’ll have to ensure you take the doses regularly and report symptoms and changes you experience.”
“I can do that.”
“I’ll get the process started. There are two options: there’s the spray, and there are the injections.”
“The injections have shown better results, right?”
“They have so far, yes. But you’d have to have someone at home give them to you daily; more than once a day in the beginning. I assume Remy will do that for you?”
“She’s volunteered.”
“I’ll have some paperwork for you to fill out. I’ll work with Stanford to get the medication sent here. I’ll administer the first injection for you to show you how it needs to be done.”
“Thank you.”
“I think this is the right move, Reese. Not just because it’s a medical trial that will help others with your condition. If there’s a chance that it works, it means injections regularly – which is not fun, but it also means a longer life expectancy for you.”
“That’s why I’m here.” Reese smiled at her.
◆◆◆
“So, how did it go?” Remy asked.
“You still up for jabbing me with a needle every day for a while?” Reese asked as she tossed her keys on the kitchen counter.
“Really?” Remy asked excitedly from her position at the dining room table.
“What am I missing?” Morgan turned from her position on the couch.
“Hey, Mo,” Reese greeted. She hadn’t realized Morgan was there when she’d entered, but Morgan’s questioning glance gave her an opportunity, and she decided it was time she took it. “Can we talk?”
“You and me?” Morgan asked.
“Maybe we can go for a walk or something.”
“Everything okay?” Morgan stood.
“Everything’s great.”
“Okay.” She walked toward Reese. “And will you explain why your sister sounded so happy about jabbing you with needles?”
“Yes.” Reese laughed as she ushered Morgan out the door. “I’ll be back.”
“Ryan’s bringing dinner,” Remy informed and returned her glance to her laptop. “Morgan picked up burgers.”
“Bacon burger for me?” She turned to ask Morgan as she closed the door.
“Of course.” Morgan smiled. “Who’s your best friend?”
“You are, Mo.”
“Good. Now, tell me what’s going on.” Morgan stepped off the porch, and Reese followed. “Side path?”
“Sure.” Reese nodded toward the path off to the right of the house that led nowhere of interest but went on for about a mile on fairly even terrain.
“How was your visit with the doctor?”
“I’m all healed up, off the meds, and the infection is gone.”
“That’s great news, Reese.” Morgan smiled over at her as they walked and entered the path between the rows of trees.
“But there is something I’ve been keeping from you that I shouldn’t have,” she began. “You deserved to know this a long time ago.”
“Know what?”
“I have a condition,” Reese confessed. “It’s called congenital analgesia, and it’s the reason I keep hurting myself and not realizing how badly.”
“Congenital what?” Morgan stopped walking and turned to her.
“Analgesia. It means I can’t feel pain.
”
“Wait. What?”
“I was born with it. Not many people know. I haven’t told anyone. Well, my doctor knows. Remy knows, obviously.”
“Kellan?”
Reese gulped and looked up at one of the tall trees that had already started to lose its leaves. The greens of summer had given way to the oranges, reds, and browns of autumn. Much sooner than she was prepared for, winter would be upon them, and the beautiful colors would turn to white.
“I told her, yes.”
Morgan sighed and looked back in the direction of the house before taking a few steps that way. Reese realized she could potentially lose her best friend over this.
“I should be mad.” Morgan stopped and turned back. “I should be pissed off at you, Reese. We dated for three years.”
“I know.”
“And you never thought to tell me even before that? We were friends, Reese.”
“I know.”
“And then we were together; and you fell. You were in the hospital. I thought you were dying.”
“I know,” Reese said again.
“Stop saying that.”
“What do you want me to say?” Reese asked.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” Morgan asked.
“I didn’t tell anyone.”
“Until Kellan. You can’t say it’s because she’s your girlfriend, because I was your girlfriend.”
“Because she’s the one, Morgan.” Reese stared into Morgan’s eyes. “I knew it when I met her. I don’t know if I told her more because of that, or because she was always leaving and going back to the city, or for another reason entirely. I just know that I want to be with her forever. When I realized that, I knew she needed to know.” She looked quizzically at Morgan. “You said you should be mad at me.”
“Should be, yeah. But I can’t be, can I? You’re just getting over another major injury and, also, you’re my best damn friend, Reese.”
“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner. My mom didn’t want anyone to know when I was growing up. She was always afraid people would treat me differently. And since I’m a twin, she didn’t want Remy getting special treatment. She’d be able to play at recess and the teachers would keep me off to the side or something like that. She thought it was important that we were treated equally. It’s a hard habit to break, not telling people,” she admitted. “I kept it up because it was easier. Most of the time, the condition is just inconvenient. I get a scratch and don’t know it. I bump into a table and get a bruise, but I don’t feel anything. I’ve just had a lot of bad luck recently.”
“Bad luck? That’s what you call it?”
“I fell last year. I didn’t know how bad it was, but the surgery to fix it was what caused the real problem, remember? Had that not been the case, I would have had a broken ankle and moved on.”
“And this time?”
“This time, there was an infection that I didn’t notice. That was my fault. And I feel terrible because I made all of you go through that again.”
“Yeah, that was terrible.” Morgan nodded. “And now? What do you do?”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean how do you protect yourself from this happening again?” Morgan took a few steps toward her. “What do we do to help you?”
“Nothing, Mo. I just have to be careful.”
“Fuck that,” Morgan stated defiantly. “There’s no cure, or you wouldn’t still have it. But are there treatments? Is there something people around you can do? Watch you closely or something?”
“No, there is no cure. There aren’t treatments exactly, but there is a clinical trial. That’s what I was talking to Remy about. But, Morgan, you don’t have to watch me more closely. I can take care of myself,” she said, and Morgan went to argue. “I know what’s happened recently makes you think otherwise, but I’ve learned my lesson, Morgan. It won’t happen again. I don’t need a more watchful eye on me to take care of myself.”
“I have to be able to do something, Reese,” she pled, and Reese recognized it as her friend feeling as if she couldn’t protect her.
“You can just be my best friend.” She shrugged a shoulder. “Morgan, that’s all I need. Remy can help with the trial. I will be more careful every day. You can just be my friend.”
“That’s all?” She lifted an unsatisfied eyebrow.
“That’s so much, Mo.” She took Morgan’s hand. “You have no idea how much I just want you back in my life as my best friend. I want all this crap behind us. I want to move on with you knowing everything.”
Morgan looked down at their linked hands and seemed to consider Reese’s statements for a moment before she looked back up and gave Reese a smile.
“Fine. But I draw the line at hearing about any bedroom details between you and Kellan. That’s going to be weird for a while.”
“Deal.” Reese laughed and pulled Morgan in for a hug.
CHAPTER 32
“When are you getting here?” Reese asked before even saying hello to Kellan.
Kellan laughed in response as Reese stood from her sofa and paced in her living room.
“Hello to you, too.” Kellan’s laugh continued.
“Babe, I love you, and hello back, but when are you getting here?” she asked with a wide smile on her face.
It had been three weeks since Kellan had left the lake, and Reese missed her terribly. Kellan had been working a lot of hours at the clinic and had been incredibly busy recently. They’d still had their calls and text exchanges, but it wasn’t the same as being together in person. Kellan had promised her she’d leave work early to hit the road and they’d have a near full weekend together. Reese also didn’t like the idea of Kellan being on the curvy and somewhat dangerous roads around the mountains as one neared Tahoe in the dark at the end of a long drive.
“I actually need you to do something for me. You’re at home, right?” Kellan asked her with a hint of something mischievous in her tone.
“Yes. Why?” Reese’s eyes brightened, as did her smile, and she rushed to her front door, swung it open, and made her way out to the porch. Then, her smile dimmed as she glanced around. “You’re not here.”
“Did you expect me to be?” Kellan asked.
“You can’t ask me where I am and then not be right outside my door, waiting to surprise me like in all the romantic comedies, Kellan. Everyone knows that.”
“Oh, I’m sorry.” Kellan laughed again.
“Please don’t tell me you had to cancel your trip. I don’t think I can wait until Thanksgiving to see you,” she said, thinking about the holiday that was several weeks away.
“I’ll be there. I just need you to run an errand for me, if you can.”
“An errand? How romantic,” Reese said sarcastically and went back inside the house, closing the door behind her.
“Will you do it if I promise you sex later?” Kellan chuckled.
“You’re giving me sex later whether I run this mystery errand or not. It’s been over a month, Kellan,” she stated seriously. “You’re giving me sex all weekend. We’re doing nothing else.”
“I can’t even eat to keep up my energy?” Kellan’s smile could be heard through the phone.
“I’ll allow regular meals,” Reese replied with a smirk. “To be taken in bed.”
“That’s kind of you.” Kellan still laughed.
“Do you know how long it’s been?”
“You just told me,” she reminded.
“No, since I’ve done anything,” Reese whispered, despite being alone in the house. “To myself.”
“Reese, you can’t talk like that right now,” Kellan whispered back.
“Why not? Where are you?” Reese changed the subject.
“Will you run that errand for me?”
“You’re infuriating,” Reese replied with gritted teeth. “But I will do whatever you want me to if it means you’ll get here.”
“Can you go to Dr. Sanders at the vet clinic? He has something I need.”
“Dr. Sanders?” Reese leaned against the counter. “What does he have?”
“You are annoying sometimes. Please just go to the clinic. I promise everything will make sense.”
“Fine. Fine. But you either better be at that damn clinic with a good explanation or you better be meeting me next door at that Italian place with really expensive wine and their famous tiramisu, or I’m going to be pissed off, Kellan Cobb.”
“I understand the terms.” Kellan chuckled.
◆◆◆
Reese arrived at the clinic a little after five in the afternoon on a Friday and was surprised to find it still open. She knew Dr. Sanders kept odd hours here and there when needed for the animals, but she suspected there was something else going on if Kellan had asked her to come here. Reese had been to the clinic a few times when Kellan was working there. She knew the layout well. She entered through the front door while staring over at the busy Italian place next door, still half-hoping that Kellan was there. She also didn’t want Kellan to be there because she didn’t want their reunion to be in a public place. She planned to kiss that woman long and slow when she first saw her again and wanted that to be in private.
“Reese, good to see you,” the receptionist greeted her upon arrival.
“You too. I’m here to get something for Kellan from the doc,” she replied as she leaned slightly over the high counter of the desk. “Do you happen to have it or know what it is?”
“Oh, I don’t. He’s in his office, wrapping up for the day, if you want to go check with him though.”
“Thank you.” Reese gave her a wave as she moved around the desk and through the door that led to the back of the clinic.
She made her way pass the small break room where she’d shared a cup of terrible coffee with Kellan once and then saw the doctor’s office door open. She knocked on the doorframe when she saw him hunched over, writing something in a patient chart.
“Reese, how are you?” Edward asked her when he looked up.
“I’m good.”
“I heard you were out of the hospital and doing much better. I’m glad to hear it.” He closed the folder in front of him.
Keep Tahoe Blue Page 23
