She reread the email and sighed. Her now ex-girlfriend, if she could even be called that, had emailed her asking to go to Nia’s place to check and see what she might have left there when Nia got back to town. Nia knew there was nothing at her house belonging to any of her ex-girlfriends because she had never been the sentimental type, and that was true with everything, including relationships. She’d, of course, let her in to check because if anything, that would get her out of Nia’s life faster. It was possible she’d want a goodbye fuck or something like that, or that she might want to try to get Nia back, but she doubted it would be the latter.
Sex had been good between them the few times they’d had it, and it had been the main reason Nia had been willing to give them a shot at something more than just sex to begin with, but she’d never been good at taking her own advice in relationships. For one to last – for her, anyway, but also for her clients who attended these events, in her opinion – there had to be sexual chemistry and life compatibility.
Nia replied to the email, letting her know that she could stop by to check, listing a few dates and times that would be good for her to get this process moving along, checked the remainder of her emails, including a few applications that had come in, and set them aside to review later. Having sighed for a second time,she closed her laptop. It was only seven in the morning, and she was already tired.
She had gotten a good night’s sleep the previous night. After getting herself off a few times, thanks to the show Kristina and Jennifer had put on her for her, she had practically passed out around midnight, which wasn’t like her at all. For an early riser like her, seven should’ve been fine for her, too, but today, she was tired, and she knew why. She was ready for something else, and it was time she started pursuing her own happiness.
“Morning, Nia,” Kristina greeted when Nia walked into the kitchen an hour later, after taking her shower and getting dressed for work.
“Good morning,” she said with a smile. “I didn’t mention this yesterday, but I very much appreciated watching you and Jennifer. Is that all right to say?” she asked, knowing the answer already.
“Oh, sure.” Kristina blushed instantly. “Yeah, I mean, that’s fine. Sorry if it was right in your face. I know you said public stuff was okay and that people could leave or ask us to leave. You didn’t do either, so I hope it was okay.”
“It was more than okay.” Nia winked. “You know you are gorgeous. Jennifer is a very lucky woman.” She smiled.
“That, I am,” Jennifer said as she walked into the room. “So, what are we talking about, besides how lucky I am?”
“That’s all. Just that,” Kristina said and turned to her. “Coffee?”
“Actually, can I talk to both of you for a minute?” Jennifer asked.
“Something wrong?” Kristina checked.
“Not exactly, but I might need to get home today instead of tomorrow.”
“What? Why?” Kristina asked, looking concerned.
Nia just listened intently as she poured herself a cup of coffee.
“I have a patient at the hospital. She initially came into the ER after a car accident. We patched up internal bleeding and sent her upstairs, but I checked on her because she was only nineteen, and I got to talk to her a little when she first arrived, after the…” Jennifer shook her head. “Anyway, she seemed like a great kid, and I thought she’d be home by now, but it turns out, there was another issue. I won’t get into it, but she was moved into the ICU, and there’s not much hope. Doctors don’t really talk that way, so I’ll just say it: she’s not going to make it.”
“What? Oh, babe… I’m sorry.”
“Me too. She’s an organ donor, and I just checked my phone. Sheryl told me it’s likely they’re going to turn off the machines tomorrow, and we’re going to do the honor walk. I’d like to be there. I didn’t know her long, but she was a kid, and I’d like to be there to pay my respects.”
“Of course,” Kristina said and turned to Nia. “Can we change our flights?”
“You don’t have to go,” Jennifer told her. “I know you wanted to stay all the way through. I just know I’ll regret it ifIdon’t go. I can see you tomorrow when you get home. I might be able to pick you up from the airport, depending on when you land.”
“No offense to Nia, but there’s no reason for me to be here if you’re not here, Jen.” Kristina turned to Nia. “Nia?”
“Of course. You’re not required to stay here. If you need to get home, you need to get home. Today’s the last day with an activity anyway, and tonight is the last night for people to start to plan and adjust to not being here, but you two live in the same place, so you don’t need to worry about that. Take care of whatever you need right now if you want, and I can tell the others at breakfast.”
“Are you sure?” Jennifer checked with Kristina. “I’m sorry. I feel like I want to be in two places at once, but I can’t be. She’s only nineteen… A twenty-three-year-old got drunk and thought he could drive home. Now, she’s dead, and she’s going to save lives. I want to pay my respects.”
“Can I be there, too?” Kristina asked. “Or is that not allowed? Maybe just family and hospital people?”
“You can be there. Visitors for other patients join us sometimes, too.”
“Okay. Let’s go change our flights. We’ll pack and say goodbye to everyone after.”
“Thank you,” Jennifer said and took Kristina’s hand. “I really am sorry, Nia.”
“It’s okay. I understand. It’s good what you’re doing.” Nia smiled at them both. “I’ll tell the others.”
When the two women walked out of the kitchen and likely toward the room they had been sharing the past few nights, Nia thought about how it was still interesting to her how some couples spent the week. Their first night together was often tentative. Then, the requests to have another night would come the next morning, and usually, by that night or the night after, they started sharing a room, having moved all their stuff into one space instead of having it in two different rooms. At least one couple had done just that at every event.
“Ladies, can I talk to you all for a moment?” she asked when she made it outside, where she found the other four women sitting around the table. “Kristina and Jennifer will be leaving us today. There’s been a work situation that Jennifer needs to get back for, and Kristina will be leaving with her. They’re changing flights right now and will say goodbye when they’re done packing.”
