Complications

by Mj Williamz

  “My pleasure. I love Lucinda.”

  “You were such a big help when she had breast cancer.”

  “I was just happy I could be there. And I’m happy I can be here now.”

  “Thank you so much,” one of Lucinda’s brothers said.

  “I am just so happy she lives in Maybon Tir so I’m able to help,” Susan said.

  She visited for a few more minutes before Mel whispered in her ear.

  “You about ready to go?”

  She nodded. They left the house, and the tears that had been threatening fell freely.

  *

  Mel held Susan as she cried. They stood on the front lawn, but Susan didn’t seem to care who saw, and Mel was only aware of Susan. Nobody else was around as far as she was concerned.

  “Are you going to be able to do this?” Mel asked when Susan’s sobs had finally mellowed.

  “Yes. I have to.”

  “But you don’t. She’s not your blood.”

  “She may as well be. I love her so, Mel. I just have to hold it together. It’s going to be painful to see her that way. But they need me, so I’ll do this.”

  “If you say so. But I honestly don’t think anyone would think less of you if you bailed.”

  “That would leave Dorinda with total care during the week. That’s not fair to her.”

  “Again. Who are you doing this for?”

  “Lucinda. I swear.”

  “Okay.”

  “That doesn’t mean I can’t feel bad for Dorinda providing full-time care for her.”

  “No. It doesn’t mean that. I guess.”

  “Please,” Susan said. “Let’s not fight about this.”

  “Look, I’ve heard about her and didn’t like her. Now I’ve met her and don’t like her. I’m sorry I’m not more sympathetic to her plight.”

  “Think more about me and my needs, please. I love Lucinda. This is the last I’ll get to spend time with her. I’m grateful that I will be with her in her time of need.”

  “I suppose I need to remember that. I’m glad you’ll get time with her, too. I just know it’s going to be rough for you, and I hate to see you going through that,” Mel said.

  “But you’ll be right here for me, right?”

  “To the best of my ability. I’ll even come over with you if you want.”

  “We’ll see about that. I might just want some time alone with Lucinda, if that’s okay.”

  “That’s fine, babe. Whatever you need. You hungry?”

  “A little.”

  “The Shack?”

  “Sure,” Susan said.

  They started their dinner in silence, Mel worried about Susan and Susan apparently lost in her own thoughts.

  “Do you want me to stay the night?” Mel said.

  “Yes, please.”

  “Okay. Just checking.”

  “I need you now more than ever, Mel.”

  “I’m here for you, babe,” Mel said. “I’m not going anywhere.”

  “So, what did you think of Dorinda?” Susan said.

  “I didn’t like her.” Mel was honest. “I got really bad vibes from her.”

  “Really? And she was on her best behavior.”

  “You can’t hide evil,” Mel said.

  “Well, I suppose I have prejudiced you toward her.”

  “I suppose you have, but still, I felt like she was fake and I hate fake people.”

  “To her credit, she really does love Lucinda,” Susan said.

  “Is she capable of loving anyone but herself?”

  “Good point.”

  “And what did you think of her taking a leave of absence to be here?”

  “Oh, my God. I did not like the sound of that. I wasn’t expecting it and almost withdrew my services when she said that. But again, this is for Lucinda, not Dorinda.”

  “Yeah. I just hope Dorinda knows that.”

  “I’m sure she does,” Susan said.

  “I’m glad you are.”

  “What? You think this is some twisted scheme to get me back? Mel, Lucinda is dying. No one’s faking that.”

  “Oh, I know. I just think Dorinda may have plans for you. Just be on guard.”

  “I’m not interested,” Susan said. “I have you.”

  “Yes, you do. Now, let’s get out of here.”

  Mel paid their tab and drove home to Susan’s house. She took her hand as they walked to the door.

  “You know, I mean what I’m saying. I support what you’re doing. I just don’t trust Dorinda. But I’ll be here every night when you get home, waiting to hold you or love on you or whatever you want.”

  “I’ll be getting home late, babe. It’ll be after eleven.”

  “I don’t work Saturday. So Friday shouldn’t be a problem. Monday night, you may have to wake me when you get home.”

  “Or maybe Mondays we can just stay at your place. We’ll see.”

  “Yeah. We’ve got options.”

  They were in the house and Susan poured herself a glass of wine and brought Mel a beer. Susan sat next to Mel, who wrapped her arm around her.

  “How you doin’?” Mel said.

  “I’m okay.” Susan snuggled deeper against her. “This isn’t going to be easy.”

  “No. No, it’s not.”

  “I couldn’t even walk over to look at her tonight, Mel.”

  “That’s okay. She was asleep.”

  “But I have to be able to face her.”

  “You will, baby.”

  “She just looked so tiny on that bed,” Susan said.

  “I’m sure she did. She’s sick. Very sick. I’m sure she’s wasted away, baby. You need to brace yourself for that. I wish I could at least go with you tomorrow, but I’ll be working.”

  “It’s okay, lover. This is something I have to do. And I do need to do it alone.”

  “Okay, babe. You about ready for bed?”

  “I am.”

  “Is it just going to be a sleeping kind of night?”

  “Hell no. I need you to make me feel alive again. I need to remember I’m not the one in that bed. And I need to know I’m yours. Safely and securely yours. No worries about Dorinda. I want you to own me tonight, Mel.”

  “Gladly.”

  Mel placed Susan’s glass and her empty beer bottle on the table and kissed Susan hard on the lips. She climbed on top of her there on the couch and ran her hand over her full breasts, heaving under the tight white shirt she wore. She closed a hand over one breast as she continued to kiss her. She ground her pelvis into her.

  “Oh, God, Mel,” Susan moaned. “Take me to bed. Please.”

  Mel climbed off her and offered her a hand. They went down the hall, stripping off clothes as they walked. They were both naked when they fell onto the bed together, and Mel lay back and pulled Susan on top of her. The feel of her hot skin against her own fanned the fire that already threatened to burn out of control.

  “Holy Jesus, you feel good,” Mel said. She ran her hands up and down Susan’s sides, before guiding her toward her so she could take a breast in her hands and suck on the nipple. She sucked it deep into her mouth and ran her tongue all over it. She finally released it and was getting ready to flip Susan over onto her back when Susan kissed her mouth, chest, breast, and stomach. She pried Mel’s legs open and climbed between them.

  She licked at Mel with a need that matched Mel’s. Mel pressed her face into her and ground her hips, finally finding much needed release.

  “Your turn now,” Mel said.

  She kissed Susan and tasted her own orgasm on her lips. She slid her hand down her body to where her legs met. She found her clit slick and hard. She dragged her hand over it briefly before slipping her fingers inside. She moved her fingers in and out while Susan arched her hips to greet each thrust.

  Mel moved her thumb to Susan’s clit and rubbed it while she fucked her and Susan cried out. It was a guttural cry that let Mel know she’d done her job and done it well.

  She took Susa
n in her arms.

  “That was wonderful,” Susan said. “Thank you.”

  “Mm. My pleasure.”

  “Thank you, Mel. For everything.”

  “It’s the least I can do,” Mel said. “I really do like you, Susan.”

  “I really like you, too, Mel.”

  And that was enough for Mel. For then.

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  Susan woke the next morning when Mel did. She said good-bye to her and tried to go back to sleep, but her mind was restless. She would be taking care of Lucinda in a few hours. She needed to be rested. She wondered what all it entailed. She envisioned mostly visiting with Lucinda, which would be easy and she would assume, natural, since they’d done that so many times before. But things were different now. When she’d had breast cancer, there’d been no guarantee she’d pull through it, but now there was a guarantee she wouldn’t.

  She checked her clock. Seven o’clock. Five hours until she had to be there. What was she going to do with her time? She decided to take a drive down to the beach and just relax there for a while. She’d let herself commune with nature, which would hopefully calm her nerves. She sat there, just beyond where the waves ended their journey to the shore and contemplated her life.

  She had moved to Maybon Tir to escape drama, specifically in the form of Dorinda, but drama in general. She’d promised herself to remain single and free. It hadn’t taken her long to meet and fall for Mel. Which wasn’t really a bad thing, she admitted. Mel was good people. And really seemed to care for her.

  But now, up shows Dorinda, out of the blue, needing her help. And she couldn’t say no. She loved Lucinda and was truly happy to spend the last of her days with her. Sure, she was scared. She’d never dealt with death before. But she would put on her brave face and deal with it. But she did wish Maybon Tir could be her safe place once again.

  She packed up her chair and towel and walked back to her car. She took a deep breath of the cool morning air before driving home to shower and get ready. She took a long, hot shower and tried to resurrect the sensations Mel had created the night before, but it was no use. She was preoccupied. She was unsure of what lay ahead of her and that was very disconcerting to her.

  Susan showed up at Lucinda’s house at exactly twelve o’clock. She knocked on the door and Dorinda answered it, looking much more chipper than she had the day before. She wore a halter top and short-shorts. There was very little left to the imagination, but it didn’t attract Susan. She’d seen it all before and knew the person wasn’t worth the goodies those clothes hid.

  “Hi,” Dorinda said.

  “Hi. How’s Lucinda?”

  “She’s great. We just finished lunch. Come on in.”

  Susan braced herself for what she was about to see. She followed Dorinda across the room to where Lucinda lay on the hospital bed. She had shrunk so much. The bed looked way too big for the tiny figure lying there.

  “Lucinda!” Susan said and bent over to hug her.

  “Oh, my dear, sweet Susan. I had no idea you lived here or I would have contacted you long ago.”

  “I haven’t been here that long.”

  “Oh. Okay. Well, let me look at you.”

  Susan stood up straight.

  “You look wonderful. Looks like you may have put on a pound or two. Which you desperately needed.”

  Susan smiled. She knew Lucinda was right. She’d been too skinny at the end of her relationship with Dorinda. It was stress and fear.

  “Thanks,” she said.

  “How long are you here today?” Lucinda asked.

  “I’m here till five.”

  “Oh, wonderful. We’ll have such a nice visit. As long as I can stay awake, anyway. Dying seems to take a lot out of me.”

  Susan didn’t have any idea how to respond. She looked to Dorinda for help.

  “It’s the pain and all the meds that knock her out.”

  Susan nodded.

  “Speaking of her meds, she’s had her morphine for now, but if her pain gets out of control, you can give her a bolus.”

  “A what?”

  “Sorry. A bolus. Here.”

  She walked Susan over to where an array of pill bottles stood on a table.

  “This is an extra pill she can have every fifteen minutes if her pain is bad. She won’t be due for her regular dosage until four, and I plan to be home by then. These go under her tongue.”

  “Got it,” Susan said, though she was decidedly uncomfortable about giving medication.

  “Look at it this way,” Dorinda said. “She’s still on pills. When it gets worse, they’ll put an IV pump in her. So she’s still holding her own. That doesn’t mean she doesn’t hurt, but at least the pain is mostly controlled with her pills.”

  “So, where are you going?” Susan said.

  “Out to get groceries. There are some here. You can make a sando or something if you’re hungry.”

  “I’m fine.”

  “And she should be, too. I guess you two will just get to hang out while I’m gone. Thanks for being here, Susan.”

  “No problem. I’d do anything for Lucinda.”

  Susan wanted to make it clear she wasn’t there for Dorinda. She hoped she got the point across.

  “Okay, well, I’ll be back,” Dorinda said. She hugged Susan tightly. “It’s so good to see you again.”

  She was out the door before Susan could say anything.

  “Looks like someone might still be sweet on you,” Lucinda said from her bed. Susan had briefly forgotten she was being watched.

  “I can’t imagine that,” she said. “Our breakup was anything but pretty.”

  “Still, you can’t fight what’s in your heart,” Lucinda said.

  “Well, there will be no reconciliation, if you must know. I’m seeing someone new.”

  “You are? Now there’s something that’ll brighten my mood. Tell me all about her.”

  Susan sat in the chair next to the bed.

  “What do you want to know?” she said.

  “Everything. Child, you’re like blood to me. If there’s a woman out there who can make you happy, I want to hear every detail.”

  “Okay, her name is Mel O’Brien. She’s gorgeous. She works construction. She’s just great.”

  “Okay. Well, that gives me the skeleton. You’re going to have to flesh it out for me. Where did you meet?”

  “At the bar I work at.”

  “Oh. You got a job at a bar? That’s fantastic.”

  “Yeah, only, being the newbie, I get all the afternoon shifts which are pretty slow. So tips aren’t really what they should be. Of course I’m hoping that’ll change when football season starts. I expect Sundays to be jumpin’ then.”

  “Oh good, honey. I hope that’s the case. So this Mel of yours, what does she look like?”

  “She’s got short blond hair that she can’t keep out of her eyes. Her eyes are green, and her smile lights up the room.”

  “Sounds like someone’s got it bad,” Lucinda said.

  “You could say that. But it’s new, so we still need to wait and see if it’s there for the long haul.”

  “Well, I hope for your sake it is.”

  “Me, too. Thanks, Lucinda. I sure have missed you.”

  “I’ve missed you, too. We sure were close back then. You were so young and so full of Dorinda. I was scared for you. It wasn’t right to be that into one person. You practically worshipped her. And she let you. That was what was wrong.”

  “Yeah. It’s nothing like that with Mel. We just hang out together and enjoy each other’s company. She asks me what I want to do and stuff, doesn’t just tell me what to do or how to feel. She’s a real special person.”

  “That’s great to hear, Susan. Really great. Hey, hon? I’m starting to hurt. Could you give me a pill, please?”

  Susan looked at her and saw her eyes clouding in pain.

  “Sure. Just a second.” She walked over to the table. Which bottle was it again? Shit. She looked
at all of them, confused.

  “Susan? Could you hurry, please? Oh, shit. It hurts.”

  She found one that said prn for pain. She thought that sounded right. She put one in her hand and took it to the bed.

  “Is this the right one?” She held up the pill for Lucinda. Lucinda seemed to struggle to open her eyes against the pain.

  “Yes.”

  She opened her mouth and Susan placed it under her tongue. She leaned back, stiff with pain. Susan watched as she slowly relaxed as the pill worked its magic.

  When Dorinda got home, Lucinda was asleep.

  “Do you need help with the groceries?” Susan said.

  “No, I’m fine. You can just relax.”

  “Well, I was wondering, since she’s sleeping and all, could I just leave a half hour early?”

  “Sure. No problem. Get out and enjoy the sunshine. Let me tell you, Susan. I totally get why you chose to move here. It’s beautiful. And it’s all women.”

  “Yeah. It’s a special place, all right.”

  “I’m thinking of retiring to here.”

  Susan felt a knot in the pit of her stomach. She forced a laugh.

  “Isn’t it a little soon to be thinking about retirement?”

  “It’s never too soon. Maybe I’ll win the lottery and not have to work another thirty years before I retire. Wouldn’t that be great if I could move here soon?”

  “You’d probably really like it here,” Susan said. “Now, I’m going to take off. I’ll see you Friday night.”

  *

  Mel was sitting at the bar drinking her beer when she saw Susan walk in. Her face was tight and the color had drained from it. She crossed the room and pulled Susan into her arms.

  “Baby? Are you okay?”

  “Oh, my God. I hate Dorinda. I just hate her.”

  “What happened?”

  “She’s all talking about retiring and moving here or winning the lottery and moving here. I don’t know, Mel. I don’t want her here. I don’t want her anywhere near me.”

  Mel led her to the bar and signaled for a lemon drop.

  “You know, babe. You don’t have to do this.”

  “I know. But my time with Lucinda when Dorinda wasn’t there was great. We had a really nice visit. As a matter of fact, were your ears burning?”