By SX Meagher

Part 17

"Hey, Townsend? I’ve been thinking about going to Paris to see Kate over Christmas. How do you feel about my taking a little time off?"

"I pay you for the job you do, stretch, not the hours you put in, so you can take as much time as you want. We’ve got the schedule set for the winter and spring terms. We just have to have the fall term ready by June, and we’re golden."

Giving her a huge smile, Hennessey said, "We are cruisin’, aren’t we? I knew we'd do well, but I underestimated the demand for this kind of program."

"We’re doing just great, Hennessey, and you deserve a nice, long break. I mean it when I say that you can take as long as you’d like."

"What are your plans for Christmas? Will you go to Boston?"

"Yeah, I think I will. Now that I’ve struck out with everyone in the writing class, I’m gonna have to expand my net."

"Hey, you didn’t strike out. You dated six women from that class. That’s not called striking out, babe; that’s called being picky."

"Yeah, I am picky. Maybe too picky. I’m trying to find the perfect woman, but maybe I should just try to find an acceptable woman."

"Well, I guess that depends on what your goal is. If you’re just looking for someone to spend some time with, you probably should lower your expectations."

"No, that’s not really what I’m looking for," Townsend admitted. "I have plenty to keep me busy, including writing in the evenings. That’s why I’m picky. I’d rather write than spend an evening with someone who’s merely acceptable." Townsend looked down at her outstretched hands, a puzzled expression on her face. "Was that me talking?"

Hennessey laughed and said, "Yep. I’m almost sure of it."

"Boy, I must really like it here," Townsend said.

"I know I do," Hennessey said. "When I’m in Paris, I’m going to do my best to sell Kate on moving here when she comes back. I could be happy here for the rest of my career. As long as you’re the director, that is."

"Aw, you sweet talker. I’d love nothing better, Hennessey. As long as I can find a woman of my own, of course. There’s no way I’m gonna sit around for the next forty years, watching you and Kate smooch."

"We don’t smooch in public," Hennessey said. "Much."

* * *

Hennessey looked up from her desk and slowly rocked in her chair, taking in her friend from head to toe. "I know that global warming is a reality, but there’s no way you got that tan in Boston."

"Hi, stretch," Townsend said, placing a kiss on Hennessey’s cheek. "No, we didn’t stay in Boston. A couple of days after Christmas, we went to Bermuda. It was nice. Gave me just long enough to reconnect with my parents, but not long enough to be sick of them." She dropped her bag and sat down, then asked, "How was your trip? You look wonderful, so it must have gone well."

"It was great. Really great. Having a month together was just what we needed. At the risk of giving you too much information, I have to tell you that there’s nothing better than having a beautiful woman make love to you while whispering in your ear in French."

Townsend shot a rubber band at her friend, scoring a direct hit. "Rub it in, Boudreaux. You’re making love in Paris, while I’m sitting on the beach with my parents."

"But you had a good time, didn’t you?"

"Yeah, I did. And, as long as we’re being totally honest, I’m happy to report that my celibacy streak was finally broken."

"Really? Spill it! I want details!"

Townsend laughed, shaking her head. "You know, we’ve made a lot of progress in the last few years. I never would have thought that we could have this kind of conversation. I’m so happy that we can."

"I am, too," Hennessey said. "I really am. Now tell me everything before I beat it out of you."

"Okay." Townsend tucked a leg up under herself, her usual story-telling pose. "I’d been home about two days, and I decided to give my old creative writing teacher, Nicole, a call. Much to my surprise, she was very happy to hear from me."

"Not to my surprise," Hennessey said, grinning happily.

"Yeah, well, we got together for dinner that night and really hit it off. We went back to her apartment, and when I left, I plucked up my nerve and kissed her goodbye."

"Good for you!" Hennessey enthused.

"Yeah, I was pretty proud of myself. Anyway, she didn’t mind a bit, and after we stood in the doorway necking for a while, I finally pulled myself away and told her I’d call her the next day."

Hennessey gave her a puzzled look and asked, "Why’d you stop?"

"It was our first date, Hennessey! I have to get to know a woman before I get too involved."

"That is so nice to hear. I can’t tell you how happy it makes me to see you treat yourself and your body with respect."

Townsend blushed as she nodded and cleared her throat. "I, uhm … I’ve learned from my mistakes. I only allow people I respect to touch me." She looked down at her hands and said in a faint whisper, "I deserve that."

"You sure as hell do. No one deserves that more than you do, Townsend."

Nodding briefly, Townsend controlled the emotion that threatened to spill out. "So, we went out the next afternoon and talked about our situations. She’s happy in Boston, but she wouldn’t mind spending six weeks or so down here. Do you think you can squeeze her into the spring semester?"

"No problem. We’re still short three instructors. I’m sure she’ll be able to handle one of the seminars – if she’s as good as you say she is." Hennessey blinked innocently and asked, "She is good, isn’t she?"

"Where’s the ingenuous little Hennessey that I used to know?" Townsend asked, chuckling.

"I left my innocence in Paris," the tall woman said dismissively. "If I didn't know better, I'd think Kate had been taking Viagra. Now, give me some details about Nicole!"

"Okay, okay. We spent about ten days getting to know each other. And I don’t mean biblically," she added, narrowing her eyes. "I had no interest in just jumping into the sack. We kissed – a lot, but that was about it."

"Wow. You’ve become a paragon of virtue!"

"I’m gonna have to be a paragon of virtue for the next twenty years to make up for my past vices."

"You don’t have to make up for anything, Townsend. You’re a wonderful woman, and I hope that Nicole got to find that out."

"I think she did. When my folks and I left for Bermuda, I took my laptop with me, and we spent a couple of hours chatting online each night. I got to know her better that way, to be honest. We didn’t have to worry about the physical or sexual signals we were sending out. It was … nice."

"It sounds nice," Hennessey agreed.

"We were in Bermuda for a week, and when I got home, I went to her apartment for dinner. We had a great time. Just great. After dinner, she put on some nice, romantic music and she asked me to dance."

"Cool! That sounds so sweet!"

"It was. We danced for a long time, and it felt so nice to move with her. Before long, we started kissing, and soon she was slowly – very slowly – unbuttoning my blouse."

"Whew! Smooth!"

Laughing wryly, Townsend agreed. "She was smooth. She did it so effortlessly that I hardly noticed. But when she started to pull my blouse from my slacks – she caught my attention."

"I’d think!"

"I still don’t know how she did it, but she managed to get me undressed while we were still dancing. Then I did the same to her. It was – by far – the sexiest seduction I’ve ever been part of."

Hennessey grabbed for a pad and pen. "I’m taking notes! This could come in very handy. Kate has so many more moves than I do."

"I’ll spare you the gory details, but we had a very, very nice evening. The next week wasn’t too bad, either," she added, laughing. "I went home, packed a bag, said goodbye to my parents and went right back to Nicole’s house. We made love until the wee, small hours, slept and made love throughout the day. Before I knew it, a week had passed – I barely caught the last plane out last night."

"Damn! You must be exhausted!"

"No. It’ll probably hit me tonight, though."

"So – where did you two leave things?"

"We’re gonna see how she likes our being together when she comes down here this spring. If it works out, she’ll consider moving. But that’s a long way off. It just felt nice to be held and caressed again. If that’s all that comes of this, I’ll be happy. She made me feel like a sexual being again, and it’s been a while since that’s happened."

"I’m so happy for you, T. Really, really happy." She let out a short laugh and added, "Kate will be, too."

As soon as she said it, Hennessey wished she could take the words back, but Townsend saw her discomfort and asked, "Ya wanna elaborate?"

"No." Hennessey looked down at her desk, but Townsend got up and sat on the edge of the piece.

"Come on, you can’t say something like that and expect me to blow it off. Give."

"Okay." Letting out a sigh, Hennessey said, "One of Kate’s worries is that you’re not trying to find someone. She … she thinks you might be waiting …"

"For you," Townsend finished for her.

"Yeah. For me."

Looking directly into her eyes, Townsend asked, "Have you told her that I don't have those feelings for you any longer, Hennessey?"

Returning her gaze, Hennessey said, "Yes, but not in any detail. I don't want to get into a big discussion about it, to be honest. I'm afraid that Kate will ask me how I feel about you, and I don't want to have that talk."

Townsend leaned over and kissed her friend on the head. "You’re my very best friend, sweetie. Not that that’s a small role, mind you; it’s just limited to platonic affection."

"I’ve been telling Kate that for years, but she thinks you’re too cute to be single unless you want to be."

"I’m certainly not going to argue with that," Townsend said. She shifted her weight and asked, "How about you? Are you over me?"

"No." She smiled sweetly and added, "I’ll never be over you, Townsend. I think I'll always be in love with you, but Kate owns my body and my soul. I’d never dream of being unfaithful to her. There’s nothing in this world that could entice me to betray her."

"That’s why we both love you, Hennessey. We both know that."

* * *

"We’re cooking out tonight, Hennessey. Wanna come over?"

"Nah. I’ve got a few things to clean up here, and I usually call Kate on Monday night. You and Nicole go ahead and have fun."

"I wouldn’t call it fun," Townsend said. "Nicole’s a slave driver!" She picked up her briefcase and walked over to Hennessey’s desk, perching on the edge of it.

"Is she still working on your first chapter?"

"Yeah. She’s giving me some excellent feedback, but she wants me to work for at least three hours a night. She says I don’t have nearly enough discipline."

Hennessey leaned back in her chair and asked, "How does it feel to have someone you’re close to look at your work?"

"It feels okay with her. You’re not … jealous that I’ve never let you see it, are you?"

"Jealous?" The dark-haired woman thought about the question for a moment. "Just a little. Even though I think I understand – it makes me a little jealous that you trust her more than you do me."

Running her fingers through Hennessey’s glossy hair, Townsend lifted her chin and said, "Nothing could be further from the truth, but you’re in every chapter, babe. I’m very insecure about showing this to you."

"I understand … kinda."

Townsend smiled at her friend and said, "I’ll let you read it when I’m finished. I’m just afraid of hearing your feedback while I’m still writing. Besides, I want to make sure I keep you as the villain of the piece." She ruffled Hennessey’s hair and placed a kiss on it. "Well, I’m off to find my woman and take her home. Have a good night, and say hi to Kate for me."

"Will do. Feel free to bring in leftovers tomorrow."

"Always looking for a meal. That’s my girl."

"It’s the last free meal I’ll get for a while, and I want to remember you during the summer. You know it’s just your cooking that keeps me interested."

"Yeah. Right. I have a lot of talents, buddy, but cooking isn’t one of them. All I can do well is barbeque, and you know it."

Hennessey grasped one of her friend’s hands and gave the back of it a kiss. "I’m gonna miss you this summer."

"I’ll miss you, too. I’m a little jealous of your getting to spend another summer in Paris while I hang out here."

"I’m really looking forward to it," Hennessey said. "Paris has always had a lot of magic for us. And depending on where we end up next year, we might need some extra magic to get through it."

"When does Kate find out where she’ll be?"

"Two days from now. I’m really on pins and needles."

"You are?" Townsend laughed. "I’m the one who should be on pins and needles! If you don’t wind up in South Carolina, I’m gonna have to replace you."

Hennessey tweaked her friend’s nose. "Yeah, yeah. It’s all about you, isn’t it?"

"Always has been, always will be. Now, promise that you’ll write to me as soon as you find out, okay?"

"Will do. Now get out of here and go impress your woman with your culinary skills."

Townsend gave her a smirk and jumped to her feet. "If that’s all I have to impress her with, I might as well throw in the towel right now." She slapped her butt and said, "I'm sittin' on my best assets."

* * *

* * *

By SX Meagher

Part 18

Townsend extricated herself from Nicole’s embrace, patting her lover gently as she reached for the ringing phone. "H’lo?"

"Hi, it’s me," Hennessey said. "Am I disturbing you?"

"Wha … oh, uhm … we were just … napping," she said, referring to the near-coma she and Nicole had worked themselves into that afternoon. "Let me go into the living room." She blinked repeatedly, trying to get her bearings. "Are you back?"

"Yeah, I'm in my bungalow."

"Great! I'm so excited to have you back home! But let me call you in a second, okay? I have to pee."

"All right. I’ll be here." Without another word, Hennessey hung up.

It took a few minutes for Townsend’s head to clear, and by the time she reached the phone in the living room, her heart was beating heavily. Speed dialing, she waited for Hennessey to answer, then asked sharply, "What’s wrong?"

With a very short grunt meant as a laugh, Hennessey asked, "How do you know something’s wrong?"

"Because I know you, stretch. Something’s wrong – very wrong."

"I guess I can’t argue with that," the brunette admitted. "Something is wrong. Things aren’t working out like I thought they would. Kate’s … Kate’s not going to Charleston. As a matter of fact, she’s not going anywhere."

"What?!"

"That’s exactly what I said when she told me," Hennessey said with a wry laugh. "I don’t even know why I’m laughing. It’s not funny in the least."

"Hennessey, tell me what’s going on!"

"I’m not really sure," Hennessey answered. "All I know is that Kate has decided that she can’t bear to be a psychiatrist."

"What?!"

"This conversation is going very much like the one Kate and I had. I screamed ‘What?’ every couple of seconds when she told me, too."

"Well, Jesus, Hennessey, she can't jerk you around like this!"

There was a brief silence, then Hennessey said, "I know you're on my side, but try to have some sympathy for Kate. This is really hard for her."

"I'm sorry," Townsend said immediately. "I shouldn't stick my nose in."

"No, that's not a problem. I'm … just frustrated and short tempered."

"Is Kate still gonna be a doctor?"

"Yeah. At least I think she is. She just knows that she can’t be a psychiatrist. She says that she’s given it a genuine try, but that she hated it."

"Did you know this?"

"No, not really. I mean, I knew that psychiatry wasn't her first choice, but I didn't know she hated it. I’m learning that Kate keeps things to herself until she’s completely made up her mind. It pisses me off, but I don’t think I can change her."

"So what will you do?"

"Well, she can’t apply for another residency until next year, so we’re going to live here in Hilton Head until she makes another attempt. I think she’s going to look like a lunatic by the time she finally settles on a discipline, but I guess that’s just something we’re gonna have to live with."

"Oh, Hennessey, I’m so sorry this is working out so poorly for you."

"Well, it’s not so bad. At least I’m where I want to be and doing what I want to do. I guess I just have to put my life on hold for another year, hoping that Palmetto will take another chance on Kate after she turned them down once."

"That truly sucks, Hennessey. I’m so sorry she’s having so much trouble making up her mind."

"Me, too. But there’s nothing I can do about it. Now tell me how your summer’s going. I wanna hear some good news, buddy."

"I think things are going well. I like Nicole a lot, and I think she cares for me as much as I do her."

"Do you think she’s ready to move here?"

"No, she’s not ready for that yet. She wants to spend some time getting to know the area and deciding if there are enough cultural opportunities for her to be happy here."

"Couldn’t she have done some of that in the last six weeks?"

Townsend laughed. "She could have if I’d let her leave the house. It’s been a long time, stretch. A looooong time."

Hennessey joined her friend’s laughter, adding, "I’m glad that she makes you want to stay home, buddy."

"Oh, we stay home, all right. I’ve lost ten pounds in six weeks! We rarely eat dinner, and –"

"Too much information," Hennessey interjected. "You lovebirds just continue to remain horizontal. Kate and I are going to spend the rest of the summer exploring South Carolina. As long as we’re both not working, this is the perfect opportunity for me to sell her on my state. As a matter of fact, we’re gonna go to Beaufort tomorrow to spend a few days with my family. I’m gonna try to keep the visits short so that everyone can get used to each other gradually."

"Have fun, stretch. I know you can convince Kate that South Carolina is the best place on earth. If you need any help, I’ll be glad to pitch in. I think I love it as much as you do."

"Thanks for the offer, T. I think we’re gonna do some beach camping and slowly work our way down to Florida. Kate wants to take me to Disney World."

"Aren’t you a little old for that?" Townsend teased.

"I’ve never been, and I’m not getting any younger, so I guess there’s no time like the present. I’ll call you when we get back, okay?"

"You’d better, stretch. Take care of yourself."

"I will. Make sure you let Nicole come up for air once in a while, you hussy."

"If you think I’m a hussy now, you have a short memory, Hennessey," Townsend said, laughing.

* * *

"Welcome back," Townsend said the moment she saw the dark head poke into the office.

"It’s good to be back," Hennessey replied. "Most people would kill to be on a six week vacation, but I was itching to get back home after two."

"Did you have fun on your trip down the coast?"

"Yeah. Most of it was a lot of fun, but the visit with my grandparents didn’t go very well."

"Why not?"

"Nothing big happened," Hennessey admitted, "but I don’t think Kate will ever warm up to my grandparents – or my father."

"What’s wrong with your father?" Townsend asked sharply.

Hennessey smiled. "I love how defensive you are of my family."

With a small smile Townsend said, "They deserve defending. They have their faults, but they've all done their best, Hennessey."

"You know I agree with you, but Kate thinks Daddy uses the money I send for alcohol." Hennessey shrugged her shoulders. "She’s probably right. She thinks I should pay some of their bills directly, rather than give him a check."

"I’m sure you considered that," Townsend said. "Why did you choose to do it the way you do?"

"Because he’s my father," Hennessey said. "I know he’s an alcoholic, and I know he’s often irresponsible, but he’s my daddy. I can’t take away the little bit of pride he has left. I’d have to tell him that I don’t think he’s able to handle the money, and that would break his heart."

"I understand, Hennessey. I really do."

"Thanks," the older woman said. "I might be enabling him by giving him money, but in his case, I think it would be worse for him to know I don't trust him. I'm trying my best."

"I know you are."

Hennessey shivered and shook her head. "This makes me anxious to talk about. Why don't you tell me about Nicole."

"We had a great summer," Townsend said, smiling brightly. "We took short trips all over the region. We went to Atlanta, Savannah, Winston-Salem, Charleston … just about every place I could think of to give her a taste of the South."

"Did she like it?"

"Yeah, I think she did, but I'm certain she likes me. That's the important part," Townsend added, wiggling her eyebrows.

"Then why didn't she stay? I thought that was the point."

"Yeah, that was part of the reason, but she really likes her job in Boston, and her family is there. She has some young nieces and nephews that she's positively wild about, and she hates the thought of leaving them. I think she wants to take it slow to make sure we aren't making a mistake. I don't mind," Townsend insisted. "I want her to be sure before she gives up too much of her life for me."

"Must be nice," Hennessey said, a look of sadness stealing over her features.

* * *

"Hey, Townsend?" Hennessey’s voice broke the stillness in the office, and Townsend found herself starting at the sound.

"Yeah?"

"What are you gonna do for Thanksgiving?"

"I’m gonna go to Boston. Why do you ask?"

"I wasn't sure if you were gonna. If you weren’t, I thought you might come home with me."

Townsend blinked at her friend. "That’s … a bit of a surprise."

"Surprise?"

"Uh-huh." Townsend stood up and walked around her desk to perch on the corner of Hennessey’s. "I … haven’t brought it up, but one of two things is happening. Either you're sick of me, or Kate isn’t too crazy about me. I have a feeling I know which one is the truth."

Hennessey leaned over and rested her head on her stacked fists. The posture was one that Townsend had seen hundreds of times, and each time, it made her imagine her friend as a small child. The angle of her head usually made her dark hair fall into her eyes, and she looked so earnest and thoughtful that Townsend wanted to kiss her on the crown of her head. This time she didn’t resist the impulse, and when she pulled away, Hennessey looked up at her. "What was that for?"

"For looking adorable." She shrugged her shoulders. "Couldn’t help myself."

Giving her friend a full smile, Hennessey said, "It’s not that Kate doesn’t like you, Townsend. She does. She just … she doesn’t like us."

"Us?"

"Yeah. She feels like a third wheel when we’re together. You and I speak in a shorthand that she doesn’t understand, and it makes her feel left out."

"Then how were you planning on getting away with having me come to Beaufort with the two of you?"

Hennessey rolled her eyes and said, "I’d rather have Kate be slightly angry with me than have you be alone on Thanksgiving."

Townsend ran her hand through Hennessey’s thick hair. "You’re a doll, but I’m gonna be far from alone. I miss Nicole like crazy, and we plan on spending most of the holiday together. I want to remind her of what she left behind in South Carolina."

"Ooh … that sounds like fun."

"I think it will be," Townsend agreed.

She got up and walked back to her desk, and she heard Hennessey’s quiet voice ask, "Does it bother you that we don’t see each other outside of work anymore?"

"Of course it bothers me, but I’m plenty busy. My taskmistress, Nicole, has dragged me – kicking and screaming – up to chapter twenty-two of my novel. I could never have finished that much if I were spending all of my evenings with you. So, you’re doing me a favor by ignoring me." The blonde stuck her tongue out at her friend, but immediately saw that the gesture wasn’t appreciated.

"I would never ignore you, Townsend. Don’t even joke about that. The only reason I’m allowing Kate to set our social schedule is because I hope she’ll come to love you if I don’t push the issue."

"Love might be a bit much to hope for," Townsend said, smiling warmly at her friend. "Let’s go for like."

"As I’ve told you, she likes you fine; but she’s a long way from liking us."

* * *

"Hey, good lookin’, how was your holiday?"

Hennessey put her bag down and crossed the room to kiss Townsend’s cheek. "Before I start, I want to hear how your Thanksgiving was. My story will take a while."

Townsend ran her hand through the dark hanks of hair that had fallen forward when Hennessey leaned over. "Are you all right, baby?"

"Yeah. I’m fine. I just have a long story to tell. So … spill it. How was your time with Nicole?"

"Good. Very good, actually. She spent time at my parents’ house, and I went to Sconset to meet her family. We had a great time together, and both of our families seemed to approve."

"That’s it? That’s all you have to report?"

"Well, we spent a lot of time together, and I think my charms had their intended effect." Townsend’s face bore a pleased smile as she added, "She wants to spend the summer together, and if things work out as well as we think they will, she’ll quit her job and move here."

"Excellent! I’m so happy that she’s agreed to move here!"

"Well, let’s not jump ahead that far. She’s agreed to give it a try."

"It’s a done deal," Hennessey beamed. "No one could spend the summer with you and have any desire to leave. Fait accompli!"

"We’ll see," Townsend said demurely. "Now tell me your story. It must be a good one."

"It’s an exciting one, I’ll give you that." The dark-haired woman took in a breath and asked, "Have you met my cousin Brett?"

"No, I don’t think so. How’s he related?"

"He’s my grandmother’s brother’s grandson. His mom is my Aunt Helene."

"I met your aunt and a bunch of her children, but I don’t remember a Brett."

"Oh … he might have been in jail at the time," Hennessey said, a nonchalant tone to her voice. "He spends a good deal of time there."

"For what?!"

"He has the usual Rubidoux vice: he gets drunk and starts fights with people. He’s a couple of years younger than I am, and he’s usually full of piss and vinegar before any get together ends."

"Sounds like a fun guy," Townsend said.

"Yeah, he’s a lot of fun – just don’t make him mad." Hennessey laughed at her own joke and continued. "We had most of the Rubidoux clan over on Thanksgiving. We usually alternate the Rubidoux and the Boudreaux families for Thanksgiving and Christmas."

"Are the parties always at your place?"

"Oh, yeah. We’ve got the most space and the biggest kitchen. One of the drawbacks of owning a restaurant," she said. "Anyway, it was Thanksgiving Day, and we were obviously closed, but a car filled with some good ol’ boys pulled up at around ten o’clock. I went out to tell them that we were closed, but they weren’t of a mind to leave. One of them in particular was determined to have a meal, and it was pretty obvious that I was the entrée he had in mind."

"Oh, my! You shouldn’t taunt the poor men with your charms, Ms. Boudreaux."

"Yeah," Hennessey said, laughing. "I’m all about taunting men to get them to hit on me. Anyway, I was well in control of the situation, but Brett stuck his head out and heard one of the guys ask me to get in the car and go for a ride. He had to start cussin’ a blue streak, and the guys took offense. Before I knew it, the guys were out of the car and Brett was calling for reinforcements."

"Oh, shit!"

"Oh, shit is right. My cousins started streaming out, and when the guys in the truck saw how outnumbered they were, one of them pulled a boning knife from his tackle box. They’d obviously been out fishing and drinking all day, and they were as drunk as Brett was."

Townsend’s eyes were as wide as saucers, and she had paled considerably. "What happened?"

"Like an idiot, Brett rushed the guy. I think the guy had only pulled the knife as a threat, but when Brett came at him, he used it. He held it up in a defensive posture, and in the blink of an eye, blood was gushing out of Brett like a geyser!"

"Jesus Christ, Hennessey!"

"Yep. As soon as my cousins saw that, they started pummeling the guys. One of them was stabbed in the side, and another one suffered a bad concussion."

"What happened?! Did anyone die?"

"Nope. Thanks to Kate, everyone will be fine. While the fight was still raging, she kept a cool head and got two of my uncles to carry Brett into the shack. Someone ran to the house to get her medical bag, while she put pressure on Brett’s carotid artery to keep him from bleeding out."

"Bleeding out?"

"Yeah. Bleeding to death. You can die in less than a minute from a wound like that, but she got to him in time. I ran back into the shack and helped her – even though my hands were shaking like I’d had a hundred cups of coffee."

"What did she do?"

"She managed to suture the wound and get him stabilized, then she went to work on the other guy who’d been stabbed. He was bleeding like a stuck pig, but she was fairly sure he hadn’t been hit in a vital organ. By the time the ambulances got there, she was starting to work on the guy with the head injury, but the paramedics took over."

"God damn, Hennessey. I’ve never heard of anything like that!"

"You know, I’ve been proud of her accomplishments all along, but I’ve never seen her in action. She was so skilled, so competent. Her hands were so beautiful when she was working." She shook her head to focus her thoughts and continued, "She jumped into the ambulance with Brett, and when we all reached the hospital, she started barking out orders to the ER staff, telling them Brett’s blood type and how much blood he’d lost."

"How’d she know his blood type?"

"My Aunt Helene knew his blood type. He’s spilled a lot of it over the years." She shook her head. "I’ve never seen Kate so decisive, so excited. She was bubbling with an energy that fairly radiated from her, Townsend. She was … full of herself, and I mean that in the best possible way. She used every one of her talents and skills that night, and she was truly a dynamo."

"Your family must be ready to adopt her," Townsend said.

"Just about. When we finally got home that night, my gramma hugged her and kissed her on both cheeks." She started to laugh and added, "She said, ‘I know your people don’t believe in the Lord, but Jesus was guiding your hands tonight, Kate.’" Townsend collapsed with laughter, and Hennessey joined in. "Even Kate thought that was funny."

"God, how must it feel to be able to save a man’s life," Townsend said, her voice nearly a whisper.

"It must feel like an aphrodisiac," Hennessey said. "We rocked the house when we went to bed." She shook her head and whistled, then said, "She’s never been so … so … I don’t even know what to call it, but I hope it comes back soon!"

"You could hang out with Brett when he gets back on his feet," Townsend teased. "He sounds like he could use a personal physician."

"Yeah, he could," Hennessey agreed. "But I think this experience showed Kate – and me – that she’s a born trauma surgeon. Psychiatry will never be enough for her, Townsend. She needs the adrenaline rush. That’s why she was drawn to medicine."

"Wow." Townsend leaned back in her chair. "That decision has a lot of repercussions for you two."

"I know it," Hennessey agreed. "But if she feels stifled in her career, she won’t be a good partner."

"No, but if she’s gone for twenty hours at a time, she won’t be much of a partner, either."

Hennessey shrugged. "One step at a time. We both need to find satisfaction in our careers, then we’ll do what we have to do to be happy in our relationship. You can’t have everything you want. If there’s one thing I’ve learned over the years, it’s that."

* * *

"Hey, look at this Easter basket!" Townsend gave her friend a delighted smile while ripping open the clear, pink plastic that covered the gift.

"I couldn’t go home for Easter and not bring you a basket as nice as mine was," Hennessey explained.

"Did you have fun?"

"Yeah, I did. And for a change, I think Kate enjoyed herself, too. Gramma still thinks she’s a saint, so that helps a lot, and everyone else has started to treat her like a member of the family. She seems much more comfortable."

"Hmm … your words say one thing, but your expression says another. What’s wrong?"

"Oh, nothing. I’m just … uhm … Kate has made some decisions about next year, and I’m not very happy about them."

"Are you working on anything that’s absolutely pressing?" Townsend asked, in a seeming non sequitur.

"No, not really. Why?"

"Because we haven’t played hooky in ages. Let’s sneak out and go to the beach."

"To the beach?"

"Yeah. I’d love to take a long walk on the beach, maybe rent some surf casting gear. C’mon. We deserve a day off."

"We just had a five day weekend," Hennessey said, her blooming grin telegraphing her feelings.

"Yeah, but we weren’t together. I need a day with you. Now come on." She stood and picked up her carryall, giving Hennessey a questioning look.

"You’re the boss," the older woman said, adding a wink.

* * *

The pair deposited their shoes on a dock and took off, walking in the chilly surf. "It’s kinda nice to have a job where we can wear shorts most of the year, isn’t it?" Townsend asked.

"Sure is. Do you think you can wear shorts and walk on the beach in Baltimore in April?"

"Hold on there, sport. What’s this about Baltimore?"

"Johns Hopkins is Kate’s number one choice for a surgical residency."

"Oh, Hennessey." Townsend wrapped an arm around her friend’s waist and gave her a squeeze. "What happened to South Carolina?"

"If she’s gonna be a top flight trauma surgeon, she has to do her residency at a top flight hospital. USC isn’t a bad place, but it’s certainly no Johns Hopkins."

"Where are her other choices? Is USC one of them?"

"Nope. The others are in New York, California and Chicago. It doesn’t really make much difference to me which one she gets. None of them are near my home." She let out a melancholy sigh and shook her head. "None of them are near my job or my best friend, either."

Townsend reached over and took Hennessey’s hand. They walked in silence for a long while, both privately reflecting on the distressing development. "Are you considering staying behind?" Townsend finally asked.

Hennessey’s shoulders slumped as she said, "This is one of the ‘for better or worse’ times. I don’t want to leave, Townsend, but I have to be supportive of Kate. I can’t abandon her for four years – especially when she’ll need me so much."

"I assume that her residency will be tough, but will it be tougher than med school?"

"Oh, yeah. Much tougher. She’ll have much more responsibility, and her hours will be even worse. Most people agree that a surgical residency is the toughest of them all, and knowing Kate, she’ll throw herself into it with all of her heart."

"Where does that leave you? What about your career?"

"I’m going to try to find a teaching job," she said, looking thoroughly dejected. "I’ll apply at every college near her choices and hope that I get something in the city that Kate gets. It’s a crap shoot, but I don’t know what else to do."

Townsend stopped and let her hands drop to her sides. Her head tilted back, and she stared up at the sky for a full minute. "I hate to be this selfish, but I can’t bear the thought of your being so far away for so long." She ineffectually sniffed away her tears as Hennessey wrapped her in an emotion-filled hug.

"I don’t want to go," the brunette whispered. "I’m so happy here … so happy with my job … with our friendship. I love Kate; you know I do, but I love my life, too. And my life is here … with you."

"Oh, Hennessey, how are we going to get through this? I can’t do your job, and I can’t leave it open until you get back. It’s not fair to hire someone and then fire him or her when you return – if you return."

"No, of course you can’t do that," the brunette agreed. "You’ll have to replace me." Her voice caught as she said this, and she was unable to stop her tears. Her legs slowly gave out, and she found herself sitting cross-legged on the sand, her head buried in her hands.

Townsend was beside her in the blink of an eye, holding her and murmuring, "I don’t want to replace you. I don’t … I don’t."

With tears streaming down her face, Hennessey looked at her friend and sobbed, "What are we going to do?"

"I don’t know, sweetheart, but we’ll think of something. I swear we will. We’ll figure out a way around this, no matter what." She wrapped her arms around her friend’s shivering body and held her close, her own tears slipping into the inky, black strands of Hennessey’s glossy hair.

* * *

Hennessey jumped for the phone when it rang, Townsend staring at her with wide eyes, amazed at her quick reaction time. "Hi, baby," she said, a smile twitching at her lips. "What’s the news?" She paused for a moment, and Townsend could see her wince slightly, then let out a breath. "Wow. That’s quite an accomplishment, Kate. I don’t know many people who get their first choice after having been out of school for two years. You should be very proud of yourself – I know I am."

Townsend smiled at the dark-haired woman, happy to have a friend of such character. She knew this was the last thing that Hennessey wanted, and she truly admired her for being so supportive of her partner. She got up and let the women have their privacy, pausing to run her hand through her friend’s hair and pat her shoulder as she left the room.

* * *

Three weeks later, Townsend walked into the office to find Hennessey making a series of paper airplanes and sailing them across the room – trying to reach the wastebasket. "Having fun?" the blonde asked.

"Not really. I’ve decided to stop saving my rejection letters. I’m throwing them all away, just in case they’re bad juju."

"No luck, huh?"

"Nope. I got some interest from Loyola, in Chicago, and the City University of New York, but they won’t do me much good in Baltimore. Baltimore is a smaller town, with far fewer colleges and universities. It’s gonna be much tougher to find a job."

"What will you do if you can’t find one? Don’t you need the money?"

"Hell, yes, we need the money," Hennessey said with more asperity than she had intended. She shook her head and said, "I’m sorry, honey. I’m just on my last nerve. Kate’s gonna make less than minimum wage when you consider the hours she’ll be working. I’m gonna have to find something – even if it’s not teaching."

"Like what?"

"I don’t know. I guess I could waitress – Lord knows I have enough experience."

"Hennessey, I can’t let you do that! You have a Ph.D!"

With another perturbed scowl settling on her face, the brunette said, "I know that. No one knows better than I that I’ve worked my ass off for that Ph.D., but if I can’t find a teaching job, I have to do something, Townsend. We can’t live if I don’t work."

"Let me lend you the money," Townsend offered. "I’d be happy to lend you enough so that you could stay home and write. This could be a great opportunity for you to work on your novel."

Hennessey sighed. "I can’t. I wish I could, but I can’t."

She was shaking her head as she spoke, and Townsend knew her well enough to know she was wasting her breath, but she continued to press. "Hennessey, don’t be so hard-headed about this. How will it help your relationship for you to spend four years working as a waitress? How will it help your career? How will it prepare you for your next career move?"

"It won’t," she admitted quietly. "But Kate would never allow you to support us. Her parents have offered, but I don't feel right about taking money when I'm fully capable of working."

"Listen to yourself, Hennessey! Is your pride worth more than your future?" She wiped at her face with her hands, her eyes tightly closed. "Shit. I’m sorry. This is none of my business. Only you two can work this out." She gave her friend a chagrined look and asked, "Forgive me?"

Hennessey let a small smile escape, then nodded slightly. "Of course I do. I wish that I could be more flexible, but I've got too much of my gramma in me. I can't bear to accept money for not working."

"Isn’t there any way I can help?" the smaller woman asked.

"None that I can think of. But believe me, if I think of a way, you’ll be the first to know."

* * *

On the following Saturday, Hennessey stood on Townsend’s porch, trying to maintain her composure. "I’ll have my computer hooked up soon, and I’ll write to you before you leave for the summer," she said, her voice strained and tense.

"All right." Townsend looked deeply into her friend’s eyes, and for the first time, she saw an underlying unhappiness reflected in the bright orbs. Without allowing herself a moment to censor her thoughts, she said, "Are you sure this is the right thing for you? Baltimore's only a day’s drive from here, and you could easily work a four-day work week and take off on Friday for a long weekend with Kate. Plus, you have the entire summer off. Is it worth it to give up something you love just for the two of you to be in the same city?"

The dark head nodded slowly. "I love Kate more than I love my job." Her lips twitched into a smile, and she added, "That just shows how much I love Kate." Hennessey wrapped her arms around her friend and hugged her close. "I’ll miss you more than I will ever be able to tell you. These last two years have been the happiest ones of my life, and you’re one of the biggest reasons for that."

"I feel the same," Townsend sniffed. "Your friendship means so much to me. I don’t know how I’ll get through the summer, much less the next four years."

"Well, you don’t have to spend the summer miles from an Internet connection," Hennessey chided teasingly.

"I never thought it would happen, but I really enjoy hiking. Thank goodness Nicole’s as much an outdoorsy type as I am. Not many sane women would agree to spend the summer hiking the Appalachian Trail."

"I think it’s fantastic," Hennessey said, her pleasure showing in her eyes.

"When does Kate begin her residency?"

"July the 15^th. Until then, we’ll be finding a place to live and trying to get comfortable in Baltimore. I know it’ll be easier to find a job when I’m there, so I’m trying to be confident, even though I have no particular reason to be." Hennessey’s eyes shifted. "When are you going to start looking for your new Director of Curriculum?"

"Not until I get back from my vacation. I’m going to spend the summer trying to talk Nicole into moving down here. That’s what I’m going to focus on. We’ve got fall term nailed down, so there’s no hurry to find someone."

"Maybe Nicole can replace me," Hennessey said, sounding suddenly jealous.

"I don’t think that’s a goal of hers, but we’ll see," the blonde said. "I don’t think I’ll ever find anyone to do the kind of job that you did, baby."

"You’re being too generous, but I appreciate it," Hennessey said. "I’d better get going. Kate wants to leave by 10:00. Oh … she wanted to come say goodbye, too, but I wanted to be alone with you. I didn’t want to have to put on a brave front."

Townsend hugged her close and said, "You never have to put on a front for me. I love you just as you are."

"I know," Hennessey whispered. "I feel the same about you."

"You’d better scoot. Don’t want to keep the good doctor waiting."

Hennessey kissed Townsend gently on the lips. "I love you," she said hoarsely. "I always will."

"I love you, too," Townsend said, her voice breaking. "Please, please, be happy. I won’t be able to bear it if you’re not."

"I’ll do my best," Hennessey said. "You do the same for me."

"I will." Slowly, they released each other and stood for a moment, looking deeply into each other’s eyes. Finally, Hennessey turned abruptly and scampered down the steps, holding up a hand in a final wave.

* * *

The middle of August was always hot in South Carolina, but this year it seemed even hotter than usual. Hennessey knew that part of the problem was that she'd lived and worked in air conditioned comfort for too many years, but that wasn't something she'd ever admit to her family. So, she tried to cope with the heat by wearing as little as possible and staying outside as much as possible. But on this particular night, the bugs were biting; and no matter how much insect repellent she put on they were still getting to her.

Heading upstairs, she went into the bath and filled the tub with cool water. She undressed and climbed in, feeling as down and rootless as she could ever remember. Her restless mind wandered to Townsend - as it often did, and she tried to imagine how hot and tired her friend must be. She doesn't have air conditioning or a tub, so I should count my blessings. But she didn't feel like counting her blessings; she felt like sulking. And that's exactly what she did - for nearly an hour. She hadn't turned the light on, not wanting one extra bit of heat in the room, and slowly the soft night-sounds of the Low Country started to soothe her.

Finally refreshed, she got out and dried off deliberately ineffectually, wanting the fan in her room to hit her wet skin and drop her body temperature another degree or two. She had dozens of books she wanted to read, but couldn't manage the interest, so she plugged her computer in. I'm sure I don't have any mail, but I can at least write to Townsend. It always feels better to put my thoughts on paper. Hmm … I guess someone should coin a new phrase. I hardly ever write on paper anymore. Maybe … put fingers to keyboard? I'll have to work on that.

Her computer screen threw off a dull, blue light in the dark room, illuminating the space just enough for her to be able to move around without tripping over anything. She sat on the floor to write, the coolest place in the room. I guess I should check my mail. I don't think I've looked at it all week. It took a minute to find the modem line, and a few more to creep down the stairs to plug the fifty foot cord into the phone jack in the kitchen. Once back in her room, she was pleased to see that she had six messages. None of the addresses were familiar, and she was set to delete them all, but she was bored enough to read them. The first three were variations on a theme – offering more porn for less money – and she quickly deleted them. The next two were also spam, solicitations for on-line casinos, another service she wasn't interested in.

The last note was from the United States Forest Service, and it took her a moment to check the header to see that it was from Townsend. "Cool!" she said aloud. Quietly, she began to read.

Hennessey read the letter at least a dozen times, each reading bringing a bigger and brighter smile to her lips.

* * *

On Labor Day, Townsend pulled her SUV into the driveway of her home, stunned to see Hennessey’s father's dilapidated truck parked at the front of the space. Jumping out, she ran around the back of the house and found her friend sitting on the wide, shaded porch.

A cheap, Styrofoam cooler, filled with cold bottles of water and cranberry juice, sat beside her, and an open bag of chips lay on the table. Hennessey was wearing the top of a pink and white Hawaiian print bikini, her burnished skin glowing with a fine layer of perspiration. A very small portion of her brown legs was covered by white, cutoff jeans, and her feet were bare. Her long, black hair was twisted into a braid and had been clipped to the back of her head, making her look remarkably cool despite the sizzling hot day. When Townsend came dashing around the corner, Hennessey’s head turned, and she let a slow, lazy smile play at her lips. Tilting her water bottle at her friend, she asked, "Thirsty?"

"Hennessey Boudreaux, what in the hell are you doing here?"

"It's a holiday so I decided to spend it with my best friend. I got your letter and knew you'd be back today – so here I am."

Townsend climbed the few stairs and gave her friend a very generous hug and a kiss. Hennessey’s lips were moist and tasted of perspiration, but Townsend had rarely experienced a nicer kiss. "I missed you." Townsend ostentatiously sniffed all over her friend’s mostly bare body, "You smell wonderful. Kinda like a Pina Colada. Damn, I’ve missed you so much. You have no idea."

Patting the arms that encircled her, Hennessey said, "I think I have an idea. I have a darned good idea if it was half as much as I missed you." She pulled away and took a good look at her friend. Townsend was wearing a white, sleeveless cotton shirt, and a pair of khaki shorts. "My, that’s a nice tan you’ve got there," she said, not managing to stifle a laugh. She poked gently at the various lines, commenting, "I love tan lines, but I don’t know that a dozen of them is the best look for you."

"Funny." Townsend gave her friend a pinch and said, "I wore the strongest sun block available, and I changed the length of my shirtsleeves and shorts and socks every day, but it didn’t help much. We were in the sun for twelve hours a day and I kept wishing that I could wear my bikini top, but there were too many insects. I’d much rather have a bad tan than a bunch of bug bites."

"I think you look cute," Hennessey said. "Fit and trim and healthy. You honestly look fantastic," she said, her sincerity obvious.

"Thanks," Townsend said, blushing slightly.

"Now sit down here and tell me what happened with Nicole. Your letter didn't go into much detail."

Townsend took out a bottle of juice from the cooler and drank half of the bottle in one long gulp. "I, uhm … I don’t really know what to say," she mumbled, looking vaguely uncomfortable. "We get along very well, we’re very fond of each other, and we both want the same kind of life."

"So where’s the problem?" Hennessey asked, her brow knit.

Townsend looked away, staring at a blue heron that was moving slowly across her yard, seeking some unseen prey. "I … I don’t know," she said.

Staring at her intently, Hennessey asked, "You don’t know, or you’d rather not say?"

Lips pursed, Townsend closed her eyes and said, "A little of both. I love her, Hennessey, and she loves me, but we discovered that we don’t love each other enough to make it work. We’re not … totally committed to each other. And you should know better than most that a relationship takes a total commitment. I wish we could have made the leap, but I think it’s better to know the truth now – rather than have her pull up stakes and move here, only to turn around and go back."

Hennessey nodded. "I understand that you need to keep some things private, baby, but if you ever want to talk, or cry on my shoulder, I hope you know that I’m here for you."

Smiling warmly, Townsend said, "Only in the metaphysical sense, sweetheart. When do you have to go back?"

"I’m leaving tonight. I need to be back for the breakfast shift."

"Oh, shit," Townsend moaned. "Are you really waitressing?"

"Yeah, but I hope this is my last week. I was hoping I could talk my old boss into taking me back."

Townsend gave her a perplexed look and asked, "Old boss? What old boss? You’ve never worked in Baltimore before. Do you have a professor there?"

"Nope." Hennessey looked her in the eye and said, "I’m asking for my job back. I want to work for you again, Townsend. That is, if you haven’t already filled my slot."

"What? Jesus, Hennessey, what in the hell's happened?"

"Is that a yes? I’d really like to get this job thing settled. I can’t be a waitress for one minute more than I have to be."

Townsend threw her arms around her friend and said, "Of course you can have your job back! Of course!" They hugged for a long time, with Townsend finally saying, "Oh, Hennessey, I’ve missed you so much. No one has ever held me like you do. No one has ever made me feel so well loved."

"I’ve missed you, too," the brunette whispered. "You can see how much when you get your e-mail."

The blonde head lifted, and Townsend asked, "E-mail?"

"I’ve been writing to you all summer," Hennessey said. "I knew you wouldn’t read it until you returned, but I needed to sort things out, and I’ve never found a better listener, even when you’re not there."

"Tell me what’s happened, sweetheart," Townsend said. "Why are you coming back?"

"It's a long story," Hennessey said. "A very long story. I could try to tell you everything, but I'm sure that I'll forget something. Why don't you read the e-mails I sent? Then you'll get the whole picture."

"Really?" Townsend's nose wrinkled as she studied her friend. "Is that really what you want?"

"Yeah. I don't have long and I don't want to spend the whole time talking about me. I'm much more interested in you."

"Well, I'm interested in you!" Townsend slapped at her friend's tanned leg and squeezed her thigh. "You're getting a muscle there."

"I am," Hennessey agreed. "Being on my feet has been good for me after spending the last hundred years sitting on my butt. I've been thinking about starting to exercise. Can you help me out?"

"Yes!" Townsend's eyes lit up with delight. "We can go walking in the morning before work!"

"It's a deal," Hennessey said. "I've always been an early riser. Might as well do something productive."

Townsend looked at her friend for a minute, her eyes taking in the long body then lingering on her face. "Something's happened with Kate, hasn't it."

Smiling, Hennessey said, "Many things. And when you read your mail, you'll learn about all of them."

"Okay, okay. Just tell me one thing. Are you happy?"

"Happy?" Hennessey sat back in her chair and stared into the middle distance for a few moments. When she turned back, she had a half smile on her expressive face. "I think …" She pursed her lips and then thoughtfully bit the bottom one. "I think I'm on the verge of being happier than I've ever been. I might be completely wrong, but if things work out like I hope they will …" She gave Townsend a blindingly bright smile and said, "I'm tentatively blissful."

Townsend's expression showed she was baffled, but she allowed her friend to keep her secrets. "I guess I'd better read my e-mail, huh?"

"The e-mails just tell what's happened this summer. You won't learn all of the secrets to my happiness in them. I'll have to fill a few things in."

"But you won't."

"Not right now, I won't."

"When?"

"Soon." Hennessey smiled and patted her friend's knee. "Or never."

"Could you be any more obtuse?"

"Don't think so." Giving her an adorably charming grin, she added, "Actually, I probably could be a little more obtuse, but then I'd just be annoying."

"You're annoying now!"

"Sure you want me back?"

"Positive. Even when you're annoying, you're still my favorite person."

"That's my goal, ma'am," Hennessey said in her slowest southern drawl.

Townsend got up and sat on her friend's lap, making Hennessey blink in surprise. "I can't help it," the blonde said. "I missed you so much, I have to hug you for a while."

"You won't hear a complaint from me," Hennessey said. "I have to leave in about an hour, but you're welcome to my lap for the duration."

Cuddling close, Townsend said, "I might take you up on that, stretch. It's been a long summer without you, and having you here again is a dream come true."

With a little bit of luck, we'll both have some of our dreams realized this year, Hennessey thought, closing her eyes and relishing the feel of Townsend's body.

* * *

Townsend insisted that Hennessey leave while it was still light out. "You've got a very long drive ahead of you, and I don't want to be worried about you all night. Now get going, and I'll see you sometime this weekend. We start work bright and early on Monday morning."

"I've never heard sweeter words," Hennessey said. She gave her friend another long hug, then kissed her gently on the lips. "I'm so glad to be back home."

"I'm so glad to have you. Now I have to go inside and find out why you're coming back."

"Have fun," Hennessey said, showing a devilish smile.

* * *