Moonstone (13 page)

“You don’t have to try and be tough,” Joy said. “I know this hurts. And no one else is here but me.”

“So I can cry?” Kelsey shook her head. “Yeah right. I’m not going to cry in front of you.”

“Why not?” Joy asked.

Because
. Kelsey answered silently. No way would she admit the truth. “I don’t feel like crying. I feel like swearing.”

“Go right ahead. This next part will probably sting.”

Kelsey clenched her teeth when she felt a spray of liquid shoot directly into the wound. She tried to yank her foot away, but Joy only changed her angle. The tears started at the corners of her eyes. “What the heck are you doing?”

“Flushing the wound.” Joy held up a bottle of blue liquid. “We took the same first-aid course, remember?”

“Yeah. I remember. But maybe you can skip the cleaning part this one time?” Kelsey swiped the tears off her cheeks, hoping Joy wouldn’t notice. Joy dabbed the spot with gauze and Kelsey closed her eyes. “Tell me when you’re done.”

After a moment, Joy said, “I need to dry off the area and put on a couple butterflies to close the area. Then we’ll be done. You better keep your eyes shut until I get it wrapped up. Do you want a Hello Kitty or Ninja Turtle Band-Aid on top?”

“Neither.”

“You want Wonder Woman, right?” Joy asked. Under her breath she added, “Who doesn’t?”

Kelsey opened her eyes then.

Joy grinned and said, “It’s a joke. You don’t have to look so serious.”

Kelsey didn’t answer. She still hadn’t told anyone. But maybe Joy just knew. “Why are you always so quiet?”

Joy shrugged. “I don’t have a lot to say to most of the people around here.”

“I guess I don’t blame you,” Kelsey said. “Most of the people around here suck.”

Joy didn’t answer. Finally she said, “Your color’s looking a little better.”

Kelsey cleared her throat. “I feel better.” But maybe the color was her lingering blush.

They were both quiet for several minutes while Joy finished with the wound. She put on the butterfly bandages and Kelsey was finally brave enough to peek at it once the blood was cleaned up. The wound was a half-inch at most, like Joy had said, though Kelsey would have sworn it was much bigger at first. Two inches at least. “I need to come up with something to thank you.”

Joy didn’t say anything. She wrapped gauze around the butterfly bandages and then made a figure eight pattern around Kelsey’s foot. Finally she taped the gauze in place and stood up. She didn’t meet Kelsey’s gaze.

“Want to try standing up and see how it feels?”

Kelsey shook her head. “I want to stay here for the rest of the night.”

“Too bad. I’m not leaving you here.” Joy reached out her hand. “I want a slice of pizza from Romeo’s and the kitchen closes at nine. We’re getting out of here before then.”

Kelsey clasped Joy’s hand and stood up. “Taco Bell’s open late. We could go there instead.”

Joy shook her head. “I’m going to Romeo’s if I have to carry you out.”

“You can’t carry me,” Kelsey said. But she didn’t resist when Joy slipped her arm under her to support her weight. She gingerly stepped into the flip-flops and winced with the first bit of pressure. Joy kept her arm around Kelsey’s waist as she took a step. She paused and looked at Joy. “Pizza sounds better than tacos. Okay if I come too?”

“To Romeo’s?” Joy tilted her head. “With me?”

“Don’t look so surprised. I eat pizza too.”

“Yeah, but…not with me.”

Kelsey felt her heart thumping in her chest. She pulled away from Joy and reached for the door. Joy didn’t move when she opened the door, and Kelsey felt the last bit of courage she’d pulled together slip away. “I’m sorry you had to stay late because of me. I’m sure you had better plans tonight.”

“I didn’t have any plans. Except pizza. And it’s not that I don’t want you to come with me, it’s just that…”

“It’s okay,” Kelsey interrupted. “I can take a hint.” She smiled and took another step and winced. Joy caught her arm again. “I know I probably seem ridiculous, but my foot hurts like a mother—” Kelsey stopped.

“You can swear around me.” Joy held the door open and waited for Kelsey to hobble past her. “But it won’t make me think you’re tough.”

“Yeah, now you know the truth.” Kelsey sighed. She glanced out at the parking lot as Joy locked the front door. Joy’s car was parked two spaces away from hers. “So when are you outta here?”

“Freshman orientation is in two weeks.”

Kelsey nodded. “Mine too. Think you’ll miss this place?”

Joy stopped. She looked back at the entrance to the pool and then out at the parking lot. “Not a chance.”

“Me neither.” Kelsey paused. “You know, this weekend’s the last Mad River bonfire before everyone leaves. Maybe you could come.”

“Are you asking me to go with you?”

Kelsey nodded. She couldn’t say the words aloud, but she desperately wanted Joy to say yes.

Baby number three had arrived that morning. Terrence wouldn’t admit how much he’d wanted a boy, but Joy could hear the beaming pride in his voice when he broke the news. Samuel. They hadn’t picked out a middle name yet. Joy felt her heart skip a beat but managed to congratulate him and get off the phone without any tears. And now she needed flowers sent to the hospital. Helen or Chloe volunteered to run the errand for her, but she wanted to pick them out herself. She took an early lunch, picked out the flowers and then swung by Eddie’s to get sandwiches for everyone.

When she got back, Kelsey’s Audi was parked in front of the clinic. She stared at the car for a moment, and then the front door of the clinic opened and Kelsey was smiling at her. “Coming in?”

Joy’s hands were full and because Kelsey’s gaze made her unsteady, she didn’t argue that holding the door for her was unnecessary. Kelsey had her hair pulled back in a low ponytail and was wearing another business suit—navy with a cream blouse. Joy swallowed and reminded herself not to stare. Unfortunately, Kelsey West looked damn good in a business suit.

“Lunch is here,” Helen hollered. She motioned for Chloe to take the bags to the lounge and then Joy was standing empty-handed staring at Kelsey again. She glanced at the lounge. Denise, Chloe and Helen were setting out the sandwiches on the coffee table between the love seats.

“I was dropping off something for Denise,” Kelsey said. “I don’t need to interrupt your lunch. We’ll talk later, Denise.” Kelsey turned to wave to Denise.

“You know, there’s plenty to share if you’d like to join us,” Denise said.

“It’s true,” Joy said. “Eddie’s sandwiches are practically two meals. We can split my turkey sandwich. Avocado and tomato with Swiss.”

“I’m not here to steal your lunch.” Kelsey laughed. “But thank you.”

Chloe opened her sandwich. “Eddie’s sandwiches are huge.”

“If you don’t want half of Joy’s turkey, you can share my roast beef,” Denise offered. “Anyone want a pickle?”

“We’ve got twenty minutes before appointments start,” Joy said. She sat down in one of the love seats and then pointed to the chair nearest hers. “Who can say no to a pickle and half of a sandwich from Eddie’s?” She tore the paper separating the two halves of the precut sandwich and held it out to Kelsey. “Don’t worry. No strings attached. It’s only a pickle and a sandwich.”

“Technically, half a sandwich,” Helen added.

Kelsey glanced from Joy to Denise and then sighed. “Okay. You won me over.” She took Joy’s sandwich and sat down next to her. It was the only remaining seat. “Two lunch dates in less than a week.”

Joy didn’t say anything. She felt her body warm when Kelsey looked up at her. It was useless pretending that this was business as usual.

After a few minutes, Chloe piped up with, “Did you guys know there’s a lunar eclipse tonight? And the sky’s supposed to be clear. I’m skipping Statistics to go check it out.”

“What time’s the eclipse?” Denise seemed to be feigning interest since no one else had spoken up.

“It starts at ten.”

Helen cleared her throat and said, “Then you should have no trouble getting to your Statistics class. That starts at six and only lasts three hours. You’d still have an hour.” Helen apparently kept track of Chloe’s schedule as well as Joy’s.

“But I want a good spot. Besides I can get the lecture notes online. My friends are hiking out to Mad River Beach to watch and we’ll probably have a bonfire after.”

Joy stopped chewing and glanced at Kelsey. Kelsey’s eyes were already waiting for hers. Joy looked down at her sandwich quickly and took another bite.

“I’ve always loved the idea of a lunar eclipse—seeing the earth’s shadow and all of that—but my bedtime is nine sharp on a work day.” Denise wrapped up the second half of her sandwich and stood up. “Paperwork calls. Thanks for lunch, Joy. Next time I’ll buy.”

Helen stood up at the same time. She’d managed to finish both halves of her tuna sandwich and the pickle as well. Helen knew how to keep to a schedule. “The first appointment will be here any minute. Chloe, are the rooms cleaned?”

Chloe eyed the rest of her uneaten sandwich and wrapped it up reluctantly. “I’ll check,” she said. Knowing Chloe, this meant they weren’t.

Kelsey stood up at the same time. “Thank you for lunch. I hope you had enough to eat.”

“Plenty,” Joy answered. She felt an old pang of nervousness and started clearing up the lunch mess as an excuse to look away from Kelsey.

Kelsey reached to help and her hand brushed Joy’s. She pulled away, quickly apologizing. After a moment, she said, “I’ve been thinking a lot lately about old times. I wasn’t going to bring up Mad River with you.”

“You didn’t.”

“No.” Kelsey hesitated. “But sometimes I think about that spot. I spent so many hours at that beach.” She shook her head. “It was a long time ago. Probably wouldn’t look the same now. But someday I think it’d be fun to hike that old path.”

“I hear there’s a lunar eclipse. And it’s supposed to be a warm night. Perfect evening to go for a hike with a view. I’m game if you are.” Joy felt her throat tighten, and she could hardly swallow. Eighteen again. Kelsey stared at her. She had deep green eyes that were hard to look away from.

“I can’t.”

The front door opened and a client walked in. Kelsey swung her purse over her shoulder as she eyed the exit. Helen greeted the one o’clock appointment by his first name, Tom.

“I have this thing tonight,” Kelsey added.

“There’ll be other eclipses. And you could check out Mad River any night, really.” Joy wanted to take back the offer. She hadn’t been so soundly turned down in a long time.

Kelsey glanced down at her purse and then again at the door. “I should let you get back to work. Denise said you had a busy afternoon.”

Joy forced a smile. Whatever had happened with Kelsey that night at Mad River didn’t matter. If it wasn’t clear before, Joy realized that she had to keep things all business now. “We try to stay busy. Have fun at your thing tonight.”

Kelsey nodded. “Um, yeah.”

Helen ushered Tom into Exam Room One and then handed his file to Chloe. Joy was certain that there was something else Kelsey wanted to say, but she only smiled finally and left.

* * *

There was a marked trail to Mad River Beach but that wasn’t the trail Kelsey had told Joy about. Joy spotted the gap in the chain-link fence a hundred yards past the entrance to the old sawmill and walked toward it. The fence separated the dunes from the sawmill, ending abruptly at the river that snaked westward until it reached the ocean. Mountains of logs were stacked alongside the riverbank and more logs were scattered behind the old mill. Joy zipped up her jacket and leaned against the fence post. Wind whistled through the mill’s busted windows and the old sign whined on its chain.

Kelsey’s black Nissan with the blue fender and missing hubcaps finally appeared. She parked on the far side of the sawmill’s entrance and kept her eyes on the road as she backtracked to the spot where Joy was waiting.

“I wasn’t sure you were going to show,” Kelsey said.

“How’s your foot?”

Kelsey glanced down at her shoe. “All better. I may have overreacted.”

“I won’t tell,” Joy said.

The sound of another car made Kelsey glance at the road. After the driver sped past their spot, she ducked under the curled-up chain link and then waited for Joy to follow.

“Most people don’t show up until dusk. They’re worried about the cops seeing them,” Kelsey said. She started down the trail. “But I think they miss the best part.”

“What’s that?”

“Sunset.”

Joy kept her eyes on the trail as it zigzagged between outcroppings of rocks and then skirted the base of the dunes. She didn’t want Kelsey to catch her staring. Before long, the trail dove into a wooded spot and there was another fence to duck under. They kept a quick pace until they reached the river where the trail narrowed and they had to go single file. Kelsey pointed out poison oak when Joy was close to it but otherwise was quiet.

“You come here a lot?”

“Every Sunday night—for the past few months anyway. Sometimes I only come for the sunsets and I leave as soon as the crowd gets too big. Or too drunk.” She paused. “I don’t want to get caught even more than everyone else.”

“A police record probably wouldn’t go over well with the scholarship folks.”

Kelsey stopped and glanced back at Joy. “Everyone gives me crap for leaving early.” She hopped over a fallen log, then slowed down again when the path tapered by a blackberry bush. “It’s not just the scholarship though. I need a clean record if I have any chance on getting a spot on the US swim team. I don’t mind if everyone at Mad River laughs at me now. I want a chance at the Olympics. Some days that’s all I think of.”

“Someday you’ll be swimming in the Olympics and they won’t be laughing then. They’ll brag about how they knew you when.”

Kelsey looked back at Joy but didn’t respond. She started up the trail again, tromping up the hill at a faster pace and Joy wondered if she’d said the wrong thing. They reached the top and the sandy trail ended abruptly. A series of rock steps led down to where the river opened to the ocean. On the right of that was a sandy beach protected on one side by the dunes.