Compass North

by Cathleen Ellis

  “Wow, that’s really nice of you two to do that.”

  “A neighborly gesture, since we planned to visit you over Christmas, Brenden gave us money for gas both ways. Driving’s cheaper than plane fare, and the bummer hassle at airports.”

  “Making the vehicle exchange?”

  “Tomorrow, I told Brenden I’d help Conner get the Alabama emissions done plus do the title exchange, and new Alabama plates. Brenden gave me cash to help with that transaction. It’ll be pricey for plates ‘cause it’s newer, and pickups have lots of value. Conner’ll have to take care of the change of vehicle on his insurance.”

  “So, oh yeah, all the same stuff’ll be done to Conner’s car when it gets back to Iowa.”

  “Right, just gotta make sure Conner signs his car’s title over, and that we take the title with us to give to Brenden.”

  “Gotcha, what a super cool Christmas present for Conner; he’ll be here as soon as he closes the clinic. The doc gives him almost complete responsibility, like it’s his clinic already.”

  “Wow, that’s a super level of trust in Conner.”

  “From what he says, most times the clinic runs like a fine machine.”

  “That’s very lucky for Conner.”

  “Hey, how’s your car runnin?”

  “Dad, I plan to keep it for two more years, unless it starts needing too much time and money fixin’ it up. I’m making good money now, but that wasn’t the case overseas and doing the visiting nurse stuff. I really gotta look at my future, socking money away, from right now on.”

  “Very smart.”

  

  “What is that awesome smell?”

  “Check the oven, big guy.”

  Conner open the oven door, “Ah, ham, smells like you added some syrup.”

  “I did. We’ll be ready to eat in a little while. You and dad are in charge of getting the table ready. Mom’s got her assigned task of fixing the salad. I just need to pop in the rolls.”

  “Poker after?” Tyrone asked.

  “Course.”

  As they sat down to pumpkin pie and whipped topping, Tyann poured coffee for all of them.

  “Still I’m an old fashioned kinda guy, so Tyrone and Annie, I’m requesting your permission to marry Tyann.”

  She held Conner’s hand and nodded to her parents, “I said yes.”

  Tyrone looked at Annie. She nodded her head.

  “Yes, we give our permission. And after all this time, we were never sure.”

  “Pop’s heart attack, that was the tipping point for me. None of us know how many days God’s gonna give us.”

  They all nodded to Conner.

  “And Tyann, you see how precious life is, you see breath go out of people’s lives, all the time in your work,” Annie added.

  “We’ve spent as much time together as we can the last three months. We’ve talked with our priest, will be going to pre-nuptial counseling, ‘cause for us, we’ve struggled for a time in our relationship.”

  Conner touched Tyann’s shoulder, “Had to get reacquainted all over again. We sure aren’t the same people we were eight years ago, when we each went our separate ways, to IU and ISU.”

  “It’s been, well, very special to observe each other, how we’ve turned out,” Tyann smiled to Conner, “so far. We’ll share plans, and Conner has news.”

  “Right, so, after the first of the year I’ll help in a clinic on the eastern edge of Huntsville; helping with large animals on the surrounding farms and ranches. I like the vet in charge; he’s lost his partner who’s had to give up the work because of a rheumatoid arthritis condition. If all goes well, I’ll hopefully buy in as a partner in a few years.

  You all know I have a mountain of debt to pay back. I’ll not burden Tyann with that. I’m insisting she sock as much money away as she can into her hospital-sponsored 401K. Oh, I’ll be well compensated for the work I’ll be doing.”

  “What about you, Tyann?”

  “I’m excited for us; I plan to stay on at my med center; I love the work. At some point, I’ll leave trauma care, and do less stressful nursing. But for now, it’s what I want, my reason for being.”

  “Coming home to get married?”

  “We are,” Conner smiled to Tyrone and Annie.

  “By a stream.”

  “Tell us more.”

  Tyann turned to Conner and nodded.

  “We have a favorite place on the Mulrenan farm, like Tyann says, by a stream, where we’ve picnicked and looked up at the night stars. Just family, and whichever priest who can help us. We’ve asked pops and momma, they’ve said yes to a reception for more folks, at the farm house. Seems like a thousand years ago that we were together for our high school graduation. We just don’t know many folks back there anymore. So the reception’s kinda for my parents and you two. Your friends and theirs will be invited.”

  “We think, a Saturday in June, when we both can get away for four days.”

  “It’ll have to be our honeymoon coming to Iowa and heading back here to Alabama.”

  “What a happy Christmas for us,” Annie gazed at them and her husband and nodded, “your glorious news.”

  

  The emergency department stayed quiet on Tyann’s shift, that is, until 11:00 a.m. It seemed that’s when folks realized how sick they were. The ambulances started bringing folks in. Tyann called it the 11 o’clock wave. But today was harder, since it was Christmas Eve, when folks wanted to be with loved ones.

  Annie took Tyann to work so she could have a car for shopping. Tyrone and Conner spent a good part of the day getting the pickup fixed up for driving in Alabama.

  They stood in the parking lot of Conner’s apartment. Conner had two screwdrivers in hand.

  “I didn’t know whether the screws would be phillips or regular.”

  He knelt on one knee as he replaced the Iowa plates with the new Alabama plates

  “Unbelievable, just unbelievable, the cost of plates on a newer vehicle. Is it like that in Iowa?”

  “Oh yeah.”

  “Now I really appreciate my older wheels, and the small license plate fee.”

  “And lower cost of your car insurance, your dad mentioned to remind you of taking care of that, calling your insurance agent. Take a deep breath after he tells you the new cost, plus you’ll use the pickup as part of your vet business, getting around to the critters.”

  “Thank you again, Tyrone, for your assistance with all this, all the little details of changing cars. All my life you folks have helped our family. You’re great neighbors, especially that first fall corn harvest after Brody died. My folks, absolutely devastated, you helped organize the harvesting.”

  Tyrone smiled to Conner, “Yup, we got’re done.” He paused, “And the Mulrenan family’s always been there for us, so cool that we’ll all go on together, you marrying Tyann.”

  

  “We’re taking you out to early dinner and then present opening. Is Conner meeting us for midnight mass?”

  “He wasn’t sure.”

  “We have to leave early tomorrow morning, Tyann.”

  “I know, you have to get back to the shop and to the nursing facility.”

  “Pretty much, we’ll not see you again until the ceremony in June.”

  “Right.”

  Candle lighting at midnight mass instilled a breathlessness in Tyann, the darkened church and the light-studded trees at the sides of the altar.

  “My whole life, singing Silent Night with my family, and now with Conner included, kinda the ultimate of my religious experience,” she thought and nodded to herself.

  In the parking lot after mass Conner hugged Annie and Tyrone.

  “Safe travels back, and give my folks a hug for me, OK?”

  “Will do, and Merry Christmas to you both,” he nodded to Conner and to Tyann. “’Course we’ll see Tyann until morning. And good luck, Conner with your new practice.”

  Conner nodded to them, waved, and headed for his pickup.
>
  On the way to her apartment Annie asked her daughter, “You’re seeing him over the holidays?”

  “Yes, some, I’m doing some covering for several married nurses, to give them a chance to be with their families between now and the day after New Year’s.”

  “How many days’re you working?”

  “Eight straight, but that’s OK, cause I’ll need them to do the same for me in June. It’ll take a while to build up my annual leave at the hospital.”

  

  Jeffrey met her on break when they both returned to the ER after holidays.

  “I been watchin’ you, smiling girl. You must have news for me.”

  “Perceptive dude, you’re that, uh huh, he asked, and I accepted.”

  Jeff watched her smile to him widen.

  “You’re a happy girl, soon?”

  “June.”

  “Hey, congratulations, uh, we’re not gonna lose you?”

  “No way, I’m here, love it, as long as I got cool dudes like you to work with.”

  He picked up her left hand, “No engagement ring?”

  “Nope, just want a diamond in the middle of a wide band.”

  “Getting married back home?”

  “Yeah, our ties, our families’re back there. We don’t know many folks here, with our crazy, well, medical schedules. It’s gonna take a while.”

  “I’m seeing a woman, some; maybe one day we can double date. You’ll like her, and I wanna meet your doc.”

  

  “I believe you two will be ready.”

  “Think so, Father?”

  “Yes, you’ve completed your prenup work. It’s important now that you continue to get to know each other. Mostly apart for eight years, that’s a long time, but I know it’ll be hard for you, given your difficult and conflicting schedules. I so admire medical folks.”

  “Uh huh, we must take advantage of the little time we have together.”

  “It’s still going to be?”

  “Early June, before it gets crazy hot and humid in corn land.”

  Father laughed at Tyann’s name for her area.

  “And you’ve got a priest who’ll help?”

  “We do.”

  They stood together in Father’s Huntsville rectory office and held hands. Father spoke a prayer for them, for their upcoming marriage.

  “Please come home with me tonight.”

  Tyann smiled up to him, “I’ll follow you; I’ve stuff to do in the morning.”

  He let her in and held her close.

  “Remember what you asked me to do, the OBGYN?”

  “Uh huh,” then it hit him, “oh my goodness, on the pill.”

  “Yeah, for a month, seem to be doing just fine.”

  They took their coats off and began to undress each other in his living room. He picked her up and carried her to his bedroom.

  “My love, oh my love,” he crooned to her as he covered her face and neck with kisses. She returned his kisses with hers, moving down his chest, to his belly, and then kissing his throbbing penis. He pulled her up to him and took first one nipple and then the other into his mouth, gently sucking each one.

  “Conner, Conner,” she whispered as enormous heat suffused her groin, moving up her breasts to her head. He moved above her and entered her. They thrust into each other, again and again until they exploded together, riding their orgasms. Conner stayed with her, until their breathing calmed. He lifted from her and they lay together side by side, kissing and caressing each other’s bodies. They came together again, this time, in the quiet of their more satisfied bodies.

  “Wow.”

  “Yes wow.”

  They clung to each other. Later they fell into an exhausted sleep.

  She roused, and turned to him. He lay on his side, watching her as she wakened.

  “How long you been watching me?”

  “Little while; know you have to get to your place, stuff you’re doing.”

  “I love you, Conner.”

  “I love you, Tyann. You’re the sun of my mornings and the fire of my nights. Do you remember me telling you that, years ago?”

  “I do, at an evening picnic, you and me, near where we’ll be married.”

  The next morning Conner padded around in his kitchen in stocking feet. He wore his favorite ISU sweatshirt and raggedy sweats. She came up behind him and put her arms around his chest.

  “Thank you for making coffee. I’ll have some and then get to my place.”

  He turned and came into a hug with Tyann. They looked into each other’s eyes.

  “Hhhmmm, that love light’s in your eyes.”

  “Lemesee,” she looked up into his dark blue eyes, “Yup, love light’s there, in your eyes too.”

  They laughed together and hugged again.

  

  “There was a bad storm, guys. The area where you want to have the ceremony, it got pretty messed up,” Mandy told them as Conner and Tyann arrived at the family home outside Porttown the day before the wedding.

  “Not to worry, we got this handled. Uh, what about everything else?”

  “Reception’s covered by caterers who’ll stay and clean up, per your instructions; you guys made it so easy for us.”

  “Good, we’ll change and head over to my folks for gear we need.”

  Tyann and Conner helped Mandy. They raked and cut up branches that got stripped from the trees in the windstorm. They got the area cleaned up in a couple of hours. Tyann decided on how long and wide a path she wanted to walk with her dad to meet the priest and Conner. The three of them made a boundary of blown-down small pieces of wood on either side of the path.

  “Yeah, I like the way everything looks. We’ll all just stand for maybe 10 minutes. Hey, this’s fun, haven’t had a chance to be outside for that long.”

  Conner added, “In quite a while. We’re kept inside, well you are. I’m really loving being able to travel around a bit.”

  “Yeah, that’s a favorite remembrance of visiting nursing.”

  

  “Father, ready for us?”

  “I am,” Father Mercer nodded, “I think the sky will hold for a bit.”

  Both Conner and Father looked up to see gray clouds scamper across the sun. Mandy stood on the bride’s side and Brenden stood on the groom’s. They consented to be witnesses for the ceremony. Conner watched Tyann walk up the path, her hand crooked in her dad’s arm. She looked ahead, giving him her wide smile.

  “It’s a beautiful white dress for you, my bride and daisies in your hair, awesome,” Conner whispered.

  Conner and Tyann spoke of compass north, how each guided the other through the tumult of eight years, heading toward where they both wanted to be, their true north. Father took over. And the sky held.

  The cake and champagne reception at the Mulrenan’s celebrated Tyann and Conner. They got reacquainted with folks they had not seen since leaving for college. And they specifically requested no gifts. The reception invitation indicated a donation be sent to a Shriner’s Children’s Hospital to honor the couple if the invited guests wanted to participate somehow.

  After that they returned to Alabama and moved to a two bedroom place between where each of them worked. It took a month, again because of their schedules.

  “I’m moved in, but I have so little stuff,” Tyann told Conner as they decided where to put his belongings.

  “So glad I got a queen bed. It’ll be perfect for us. I kinda thought it was sorta big, just for me.”

  “Doc, you were just thinkin’ ahead, and you did not know it.”

  He smiled to her and gathered her in his arms.

  

  “Hey, whatcha doin’ for the next couple hours?”

  “Just boring house stuff; dinner’ll be easy.”

  “Can you meet me at the clinic; I’d like you to see something.”

  “I’m on my way.”

  Conner drove them to a ranch five miles outside Huntsville.

  “I spent a bit
of time here in the last few weeks. Want ya to see.”

  Conner led Tyann to a corral where a big and beautiful chocolate mare stood.

  “Check the little guy out.”

  Tyann stood on the fence and looked over to a far side of the area. She saw him, a brown and white, very small colt.

  “We almost lost him, at birth. And then he picked up a bad infection, somehow cut his right front leg.”

  “Was it one of those super bugs, like people are getting, resistant to antibiotics?”

  “Pretty much, it took a combination of two different medicines to get him well.”

  The little colt made a slow walk toward Conner.

  “Yeah, he knows me; I think he somehow can tell that I helped make him well.”

  Conner reached through the wood fence and gave the colt a gentle pat on his forehead.

  “Whatcha think?”

  She looked up to him, “That you love what you do, that you enjoy helping animals.”

  “Right on.”

  “And I help folks.”

  “Yeah, you do,” he looked to her and smiled.

  “We love our work, and we love each other.”

  They kissed and held on tight.

  The Irish situation for the Mulrenan and other families: In 1994 military activities in Northern Ireland slowed and some years later the Good Friday agreement occurred. In 2009 military groups in the areas were decommissioned.

  A Scarf of Promise

  Sixteen-year-old Kaylee loves Rob. She becomes a widow. While driving to a medical meeting in a distant town she eyewitnesses an accident. Kyle is a second responder and assists Kaylee in removing a teen from his wrecked vehicle. Kyle is awed by Kaylee's bravery, looks, and competence. He loves her, upon first sight. They introduce themselves to each other by first name. Kyle searches for Kaylee for several years.

  Kaylee knits a scarf her church group sends along with supplies and goodies for American soldiers in Afghanistan. The scarf travels back to a soldier's home in a trunk. The scarf brings Kyle and Kaylee together. Despite difficult circumstances Kaylee falls in love with Kyle. They marry. Kaylee moves her sons to Kyle's home in a different community. The family adjusts and love grows between Kaylee and Kyle. She accepts a nursing position, and another child comes to their family. The scarf of promise continues to bring love, this time to family close to Kaylee and Kyle.