Author's Note:
This is installment #13 of Was it the Wrong Number?
I've thoroughly enjoyed writing this series and plan to add a few more chapters to it before I focus on other projects.
Thanks to everyone for reading, voting and commenting (and being very patient)!
July 10
th
, 1992, 7 P.M.
Angie's Narration
I stopped by the grocery store after I left the office. I needed to pick up some last-minute items that Richard needed for dinner. He was planning to grill tuna, but we didn't have the exact sea salt he liked. I often joked with him that he prepared more for cooking than he did for surgery. He was certainly meticulous, but he was the most wonderful man I could have hoped to share my life with. Jill had called just before I left to make sure that she didn't need to bring anything. I'd insisted once again that having her in our home was all we could ask for. She laughed and agreed. We chatted for a bit before she needed to go take care of something at the hospital.
As I walked along the spice aisle, I smiled to myself thinking about Jill. There'd been so many big changes in my life, but that was something that I'd honestly never imagined or could have possibly prepared for. One of the things that still troubled me was that she'd carried that knowledge around with her for so many years. Knowing that she had a sister, but that she would likely never find her. It made my own reaction to finding one another seem to pale compared to hers.
Then, for everything to unfold the way that it did. An innocent mistake dialing a phone number led Kami to Bradley and through him to Jill who'd worked with Richard for ten years. She'd been there all that time and we'd never known. I'd talked with Richard several times since we learned the truth and he'd been so apologetic that he wasn't able to literally put two and two together before. That was a sign of his sincerity and his intelligence that he felt like he should have unraveled the mystery on his own.
Looking back, I'd often wondered who this woman was though. Richard worked with countless nurses over the years, each one a dedicated professional. Jill remained when many others moved away from the difficult work that Richard did. There'd been many times that Richard came home after a tricky procedure and spoke of how Jill was there to help. I guess some women would have become suspicious as Richard spoke so glowingly of Jill, but I never did. I knew my man, I knew what we'd shared, I knew what we shared with Jackie. I did wonder about this Jill, though. I never pressed Richard to meet her, as I knew that maybe that would be a sign to him that I didn't trust him, which was never my intent. As I looked for the sea salt that Richard requested, I wished that I had. Maybe we could have put all this together earlier. Those weren't constructive thoughts, I reminded myself. I'd found Jill after all this time and that's all that really mattered. We would just make the most of what we could going forward.
When I arrived home, I saw that Richard was already there. I opened the door to smell roasted potatoes and I saw he'd already showered and dressed. He was wearing an apron over his dress shirt and slacks. I always found that irresistible.
"How are you, my love," he called when he saw me. "And how was your day?"
"It was good," I replied. "I spent most of the day in the law library preparing for the Jackson deposition."
"I'm sure you're going to nail his balls to the wall," Richard smiled.
"If I have the opportunity," I smiled. He took me in his arms and gave me a delicious kiss before we parted.
"Dinner is close except for the tuna," he said.
"I have your special salt," I laughed. "Jill should be here at any moment."
"Wonderful. Why don't you pour yourself some wine? I'm going to have another glass. I'm not even going to the hospital tomorrow," he said.
"My god! Are you sick," I asked with fake alarm.
"No, I just decided to take the day off. I think I'm going to be doing that a lot more in the future," he smiled.
"But honey, your work...," I started.
"Needs to become someone else's work," Richard finished. "I've burned the candle at both ends long enough. It's time to let these youngsters see if they can save the world."
"What's gotten into you," I asked with a smile. He wrapped his arms around me again.
"Nothing, baby. I've been away from you a lot because of work over the years," he said.
"Richard, I knew that all along. I would never come between you and your work," I replied.
"I know my love," he said before he kissed me. The long slow kiss that only my man could give me. After so many years together, it still made me weak kneed. We parted and looked deeply into one another's eyes.
"I love you," I said.
"And I love you," he added. There was a knock at the door. He smiled. "I expect I know who that is."
"Yes," I said simply. We walked to the door and Richard opened it. Jill stood there in a flattering red dress. I realized it was one that she'd purchased while we were in Dallas. She walked in the house and we all exchanged hugs.
"Can I get you a glass of wine," Richard offered.
"Yes, please," Jill replied. I took her hand and we followed Richard into the kitchen. After Richard poured Jill a glass, we toasted to the future. Jill's smile was amazing, and I could not help smiling back at her. We lapsed into conversation before Richard excused himself to grill the tuna.
"Have you seen Bradley this evening," Jill asked.
"No, I haven't. But I've only been home for about 15 minutes," I explained.
"I understand, he left me a note this morning that said he had a date tonight," Jill smiled.
"A 'date', huh," I smiled.
"Yes. Hopefully they're actually doing something tonight that allows them to stay dressed for a change," Jill laughed.
"Hopefully," I offered. "But not very likely."
"That's very true," Jill smiled. She reached across the bar and placed her hand on mine. We smiled at one another briefly before I set my wine glass down and moved to embrace her. We squeezed one another tightly. We'd probably spend the rest of our days trying to make up for time we never shared together, but I felt fortunate that we finally had the opportunity. We parted and I could see tears in her eyes. She wasn't alone. We smiled at one another again before our lips met in a series of passionate kisses. It still amazed me that I'd found my sister and that we'd became lovers.
Our kissing was interrupted when we heard the door open from the deck and Richard entered. Jill immediately blushed and turned away. Richard smiled knowingly at me as he rinsed the plate and tongs in the sink. He discreetly made his way back outside.
"Sorry," Jill said.
"Honey, there's no need to apologize. I know that it has to be awkward for you having worked with him for so long," I said.
"It is, Angie," she replied. "I just keep thinking about it all. I have so much respect for him, but I'm not sure..."
"Jill, you do not have to explain that to me. I understand and I promise you Richard does as well," I said.
She looked at me and nodded.
"It's just that you've all been so open and loving and I feel that I'm holding back," she said before she stopped.
"You are not holding back. You're just being cautious as you should," I explained. I reached for her and lightly stroked her hair.
"You're sure," she asked.
"I'm positive," I replied.
She smiled and moved to kiss me. It was as soft and gentle as she was. We parted and I poured us both another small portion of wine. Richard walked back in with a plate of tuna in hand.
"Let's eat," he announced.
---
The dinner Richard prepared was delicious, as always. The conversation was delightful, and they kept shop talk to a minimum fortunately. It was apparent how close Jill and Richard were. I could tell she was well attuned to his unique sense of humor and she laughed throughout dinner. After we were finished, we retired to the sitting room. Richard poured himself a glass of scotch after he'd poured Jill and I another glass of wine. He sat in his favorite chair while Jill and I sat on the couch. I unbuckled the ankle straps on my heels and kicked them off.
"Ahh," I said in overstated relief.
"I can't imagine. I don't know how you manage to wear heels all day," Jill said.
"Because I'm not running all over the hospital like you do, honey," I laughed. She smiled and nodded before she kicked off her own pumps.
"Two hours is generally enough for me," Jill replied.
"Maybe you could use a foot massage," I offered. Jill smiled but I could tell she felt uneasy like maybe I was suggesting that Richard do it. I realized my mistake and patted the couch indicating she should put her feet on the sofa. Her mood changed and she turned slightly on the couch. I scooted a little closer and her feet came to rest on my lap.
"If you wouldn't mind," she said with a smile.
"Of course not," I replied. I took one of her nylon covered feet in my hands and slowly massaged it. She smiled again and resumed talking with Richard about his plans to step back from work.
"It's going to be different not having you there all the time," she said. "But I can understand your reasons."
"It will be different for me as well. I've always felt like I needed to keep pushing myself to help," he explained. "But we all get to a point where we're burned out."
"I know," Jill agreed. "I've felt that way a lot myself. I think once I get Bradley through school, I'm probably going to try to do something different."
I nodded knowing exactly why they both felt the way they did. I changed to Jill's other foot and noticed that Richard moved forward on his chair. I looked at him and smiled before I placed my own nylon covered feet in his lap. He started rubbing them and I soon felt all the tension in my feet and lower legs begin to melt.
"If you need a new career path, massage therapy might be your calling," I said to Richard.
"I'll consider that. I doubt you'd be very supportive of me giving multiple women foot massages though," he smiled.
