Love Came Calling

by C. A. Popovich

  “I think this is the way a hot tub is supposed to be used,” she said, pushing aside the words really trying to come out.

  “It’s certainly the best way I’ve ever experienced.” Kelly kissed her shoulder. “Maybe we should get out and dry off. Feel like going out for a meal? Maybe a change of scenery would be a good distraction.”

  Josie drove, relishing the feel of Kelly’s hand on her thigh. She felt the cold spot it left when they arrived at the restaurant, and when she moved her hand, the chill on her thigh was like an open coat in the middle of winter.

  “This was a good idea.” Kelly spoke as she sat at a window table in the diner.

  “Yeah, you’re right. I needed to get out for a bit. Thanks for reminding me I have remote access to my answering machine. I’ve never used it before. But I’m not sure how I feel about not being by the phone.”

  “The police are doing their job, and I’m sure they’d try your cell if they find anything important. And Abe doesn’t call you, does he? He leaves letters, the coward.”

  They were almost finished with their meal when Josie saw Barb enter. She stiffened, her first thoughts of Nooko. When Barb paused at their table after stopping to greet several people on the way, Josie realized her attention was focused on Kelly. Her apprehension turned to jealousy that faded slightly when she only waved from the doorway.

  “Hey, you two.”

  “Hi, Barb. Any news?” Josie forced a smile.

  “Sorry. No. We’ve quit the search for the day because it was getting hard to see in the thick woods. We’ll be back at first light tomorrow.” Barb squeezed her shoulder. “We’ll find her.”

  “Thanks, Barb.” Josie was grateful to Barb for her help in the search for Nooko, so she focused on gratitude.

  “I’ve ordered a carryout, so I’ll talk to you sometime tomorrow. Good night, Kelly.”

  Barb nodded to Kelly again before she left, and Josie sighed in relief.

  “Hey.” Kelly placed her hand over hers. “You ready to get out of here?”

  Josie didn’t speak until she pulled into the parking lot and turned to face Kelly. “Is there something I should know about you and Barb?”

  “I meant what I said about loving you, Josie. Barb and I are friends, and I hope that will always be the case, but that’s all there is between us.” Kelly cradled her face in one hand and kissed her. “Understand?”

  Josie took her hand and kissed her palm before placing it over her heart. “Sure. Thanks for clarifying that. Barb and I’ve been friends for years. I hated feeling resentful toward her. She’s a good friend. Let’s start a fire in the fireplace and read for a while.”

  “Sounds perfect, as long as we can snuggle on the couch.”

  Kelly’s request flooded her with memories of her mother reclining on their couch with her head in her father’s lap, his feet propped on a footstool, both holding books, and him stroking her hair. A longing she was beginning to believe only Kelly could satisfy surfaced, and she didn’t suppress it. Nothing was standing between them but Josie. Maybe it was time to get out of her own way.

  * * *

  Kelly stirred in her sleep and Josie pulled her close. She’d begun to realize how precious she’d become to her. Kelly was with her because she wanted to be. She loved her. She loved Nooko. Would she leave once Nooko was safe? That scared her almost as much as not getting Nooko back. She rolled over and kissed her shoulder.

  “I can feel you thinking.” Kelly snuggled her butt against Josie’s belly. “Are you worried about Ruth?”

  “I can’t help it. I keep thinking about her alone and scared with that idiot.” Josie pulled Kelly tighter against herself.

  “We can hope the police find them today, wherever he’s hiding.”

  “Yeah. We can hope. Tomorrow’s Wednesday. Brent will be here later to review details. I’m not sure I can just sit here and wait for all of it to go down.” Josie cradled Kelly’s breast in her hand and idly stroked her nipple with her thumb. “You don’t think he’d hurt an old lady, do you?”

  “Lover, I can’t think of much of anything while you’re touching me. Either finish what you’ve started here, or let’s get up and have breakfast.”

  Josie chuckled and lightly pinched her nipple before rolling away. “I’ll make the coffee.”

  They finished breakfast and sat on the front porch rockers watching the sunlight sparkle on the waves of the bay.

  “I should be doing something. I can’t sit and wait much longer.” Josie leaned forward and gripped her coffee cup. She hated feeling so horrendously helpless.

  “I know what you mean, but I don’t think there’s anything you could do that the police and Barb aren’t.”

  “Yeah, you’re right. Barb called while you were in the shower. I guess some of our neighbors found out about her disappearance. They’ve formed a posse and are combing the island. I’m touched that so many care, but I worry they’ll get hurt. Abe didn’t hesitate to shoot at Barb, so I doubt he’d care about killing a civilian.” Josie stood and clenched her fists. “If he hurts her, I swear…”

  Kelly stood and embraced her. “I know. Come on. Let’s go do some cleaning.”

  “What are you talking about?” Josie pulled away scrambling to figure out what Kelly meant.

  “I think we need a distraction, so let’s get obsessive about washing windows and scrubbing floors. Don’t you have lodgers coming next month?”

  “No. Not until January, and the cabins are pretty much ready.” Josie paused, grateful for Kelly’s intention. “But they could always use attention.”

  Josie led Kelly to the cleaning supply closet and laundry room, stopping once to kiss her soundly. They gathered mops, window cleaner, rags, and dusters and each took one cabin. An hour into their cleaning frenzy, Josie went in search of Kelly. “I’ll be right back.” Josie stuck her head into the cabin where Kelly was busy mopping the floor. “I’m going to check the answering machine.”

  As Josie rounded the corner, she heard a clatter coming from the lodge. She ran toward it and stopped when she saw the door to the office wide open. She rushed in and froze, her heart in her throat.

  Abe stood with his arm around Nooko’s neck and a handgun pointed at her head.

  Chapter Thirty-six

  “You’re not going to get away with this.” Josie watched Nooko closely. She looked scared, but a spark in her eye showed her strength and determination as she held on to his arm restraining her.

  “Shut up and give me my box, or she’s dead!” Abe glanced around the room. He looked nervous.

  “You let my grandmother go. Now.” Josie stood still, hoping she looked braver than she felt.

  “The box.” He pushed the gun into Nooko’s temple and glared at her.

  Josie wanted nothing more than to stare him down and make him leave without Nooko, but she gave in to sense and turned to open her safe. She pulled out the box, still trying to figure out a way to get rid of Abe without harming Nooko. She wished Barb would fly into the parking lot to save the day. She set the box on the desk just out of Abe’s reach. “Let her go, and I’ll walk away from this desk. You can have the damn box. Just let her go.” Josie took a step back and heard the scrape of the door behind her too late.

  Kelly stepped into the room. “Hey, Josie, I wondered where—”

  Josie dove in front of her and heard the discharge of the firearm, smelled the acrid odor of the gunpowder, and felt the heat of the bullet as it whizzed past her. She turned to see Kelly crumple to the floor. “No!” She rose and rushed toward Nooko as Abe shoved her, and they both tumbled to the ground. He grabbed the box from the desk and raced out the door.

  Nooko lay unmoving on the tile floor. Her eyes fluttered open and closed once, and her chest barely rose and fell as she appeared to struggle to take a breath.

  “Nooko. Don’t try to talk. Lie still.” Josie looked toward Kelly, who opened her eyes, groaned, and held a hand over the blood oozing from her arm. “Kelly. Are you all rig
ht?” She didn’t want to leave Nooko, but she couldn’t reach Kelly. The two people in her life she loved the most lay on the floor injured. Fear strangled her ability to take a breath, and inadequacy churned in her gut.

  “I’m okay. I’m okay. How’s Ruth?” Kelly crawled toward her with one arm, leaving a trail of blood.

  “You’re not okay. You’re bleeding.” She forced herself not to scream, and her voice echoed in her own ears.

  “Listen to me.” Kelly was breathing hard. “My med kit is in the bedroom. Go grab it and I’ll stay with Ruth.”

  Kelly had managed to slide herself within reach, and Josie looked closely at her injured arm but couldn’t see past the blood. She sped to her bedroom, willing her legs to keep moving even though they felt like Jell-O.

  Kelly was holding Nooko’s wrist, taking her pulse with fingers covered in blood when she returned. Josie opened Kelly’s bag and pulled out a roll of gauze and a couple of sterile bandages.

  “Give me your arm.” The calmness in her voice surprised her. She found a pair of scissors in the kit and cut off the sleeve of her shirt, packed the wound with the bandages, and wrapped it tightly with gauze. Relief settled her roiling stomach as she saw the bleeding stop. Like Barb’s wound, it didn’t look as bad as it could have been.

  “Thanks. I don’t like Ruth’s breathing or her pulse rate. Call nine-one-one.”

  Kelly pulled her stethoscope out of her kit and Josie called the paramedics. Her heart beat so loudly in her ears, she had to strain to hear the dispatcher. She finished the call and rushed to where Kelly sat on the floor leaning against the wall and holding Nooko’s wrist. She forced back tears. It would do no good to fall apart. Nooko and Kelly needed her, and she’d do whatever it took to help them both.

  * * *

  “I’m riding along.” Josie spoke to the young man wrapping a blood pressure cuff on Nooko’s left arm.

  “I’ll take my car and meet you at the hospital,” Kelly said.

  “I don’t think so.” Josie turned to the paramedic’s partner. “She’s been shot. All I did was wrap it with gauze.”

  “It’s stopped bleeding.” She held her arm out for inspection. “I’m a nurse, and I feel stable enough to drive. I’m not in shock and I’m fully coherent. I can be treated when we get there. Please, just get Ruth out of here quickly.”

  “Can we take her to the medical center?” Josie asked.

  “Yes. We called ahead and the doctor’s waiting for us. We’ll transport her to War Memorial Hospital if necessary after he looks at her.”

  “You stay close and follow the ambulance, Kelly, and we’ll meet you there.” Nooko could’ve been a rag doll, lying motionless and hooked to an IV and heart monitor. She lay quietly and her breathing had settled down, but she hadn’t reopened her eyes yet. Josie held her hand with no intention of letting go.

  She watched out the ambulance back window at Kelly’s vehicle. She followed closely but at a safe distance, and Josie realized at that moment she appreciated Kelly’s safe driving, but she no longer wanted her at a safe distance in her life. It was time she took a chance and let love bring her closer. She leaned over Nooko and whispered, “You were right. Wake up and let me tell you so.” She didn’t wipe away the tears that fell. “Please wake up.”

  * * *

  Josie stepped out of the ambulance and winced. She hadn’t thought of anything except Nooko and Kelly during the ordeal. Dried blood and a tear in the knee of her jeans reminded her she’d hit the floor hard. Twice. She’d have bruises, she supposed, but she strode next to the gurney transporting Nooko into the building with gratitude in her heart.

  “I’m right behind you,” Kelly said from the end of the sidewalk leading to the medical center. She moved slowly but caught up to them in the lobby and followed them to the examination room.

  “I’m sorry. Only family is allowed with the patient.” The nurse stood at the entryway like a sentry.

  “She’s definitely family,” Josie said.

  Kelly smiled and entered the room. “I think I’ll need the doctor to take a look at my arm, but make sure Ruth is taken care of first. Oh, and please make sure he looks at Josie’s knee.” Kelly winked at her, gave the nurse all the vitals she’d taken at home, and kissed Nooko’s forehead.

  Josie shook her head. It was evident Kelly was used to being in charge, and the nurse fell into place instantly.

  Nooko’s eyes fluttered open and she reached for Kelly with a trembling hand as she strained her IV tube. “Thank you, dear.”

  “You concentrate on staying well. The doctor will be in soon.” The doctor stepped into the room and nodded as Kelly was led to another exam room.

  Josie watched him assess Nooko as she gave the nurse her medical history and the account of what happened.

  “I’d like to take some X-rays, but she’ll respond well to the fluids, I think. She’s severely dehydrated but seems to be okay otherwise.” He checked Nooko’s monitors and reviewed the information Josie had given the nurse. “I presume there’ll be a police report forthcoming.” He looked to Josie expectantly.

  “Most definitely.”

  “Good. I’ll need a copy of it for my files.” He turned back to Nooko. “It sounds like you’ve been through quite an experience, young lady.” He held her hand as he spoke.

  “I suppose I have.” Nooko looked at her, unsmiling. “I’ll be fine, though, won’t I?”

  “Yes, Ruth. I think you will, but I want an X-ray, blood work, and I want to keep you here overnight.”

  “I think it’s a good idea, Nooko.” Josie rested her hand on her shoulder.

  “Is Kelly staying with you?”

  “Yes.”

  “Good. I’ll stay here tonight, then.” Nooko lay back and closed her eyes.

  “Thanks, Doctor. I’m going to check on Kelly and call the police.” He nodded and she slipped past him to the nurses’ station to find Kelly. “Would you please tell me what room Kelly Newton is in?”

  “Are you family?” the nurse asked.

  Josie only hesitated a second. “Yes.”

  The nurse looked at her warily but escorted her to Kelly’s room.

  “Hey there. How’re you feeling?” Kelly’s upper left arm was fully bandaged and she wore a sling to keep it immobile. She leaned down to kiss her but pulled back when the doctor entered the room.

  “I’m okay. Right, Doc?” Kelly grinned.

  “Yes. She was lucky. The bullet went through her arm superficially. There’s not much muscle damage, but take it easy for a few days. It’ll be swollen and sore. I’ve written a prescription for some antibiotics and something for pain. I want to see you back here in a week for a recheck.”

  “I guess I’ll be here for at least another week.” Kelly ran her fingers lightly over the top of Josie’s hand resting next to her on the exam table.

  Josie beamed. “I guess so.” She longed to tell her she wanted her to stay much longer than another week. She wanted her to stay for as long as their forevers lasted. But this wasn’t the time or place. “I want to find out if Barb or Brent has any information yet and if they need us to hang around for them to come here. I’ll be in the lobby trying my cell phone.”

  “You’re welcome to use the clinic’s phone,” the doctor said on his way out of the room.

  Josie made her call, giving Barb all the detail she could, before she returned to check on Nooko. “The state trooper is on his way here, Nooko. You can talk to him tomorrow when you’re rested if you want to. Kelly and I will talk to him before we go.” Josie watched Nooko’s eyelids flutter closed several times as she tried to keep them open. “Am I right, Doc? She needs to rest tonight.”

  “Yes. I’ll let the trooper know she’s been sedated and I want to keep an eye on her tonight. He can come by tomorrow morning.” The doctor listened to Nooko’s heart and nodded to the nurse before leaving the room.

  After Brent arrived, he offered to follow them back to Josie’s place, where they could talk comforta
bly. An alert was already out on Abe. Josie followed Kelly to her car and helped her buckle her seat belt before hopping in to drive. “Are you comfortable?”

  “I can’t say it doesn’t hurt, but it’ll heal, and I can feel the pain pill they gave me kicking in.”

  “You close your eyes and try to relax. We’ll be home soon. Brent’s going to follow us. He has some questions he needs to ask while everything is fresh in our minds.”

  “What did Barb say about things?” Kelly shifted her position and winced.

  “Not much. They’ve told all the neighbors to go home and lock their doors, and the police set up roadblocks and have officers posted at the ferry terminal and the airport. They’re still out looking for him in the woods, too. I sure hope they catch the bastard.” Josie gripped the steering wheel until her fingers hurt.

  She parked in front of the lodge and helped Kelly into the building.

  Brent followed them in, holding the door open. “I’m sure glad to see you’re safe. I’m here just to get some information. Who’s this?”

  “This is my friend Kelly Newton. Kelly, meet Trooper Brent from the state police.”

  Kelly mumbled a greeting with her eyelids fluttering closed.

  “She was shot by Abe, and her pain meds are taking effect.”

  “I’m thinking there’s quite a story here.” Brent helped settle Kelly on the couch, took a seat at a table, and pulled out his notepad. “Do you feel well enough to answer a few questions?”

  “I do, but Kelly’s going to lie down and rest.” Josie gently stuffed a small throw pillow under Kelly’s head and covered her with a light blanket.

  “So, there’s nothing you can remember about his vehicle?” Brent asked.

  Josie had been sitting with him for half an hour reviewing everything that had transpired with Abe. Her knee ached as she shifted her position in the chair. All she wanted to do was join Kelly on the couch. “No. He always showed up on foot, or the first time, on his snowmobile. He might have had one when we saw him at the restaurant, but I never saw him in it.”