Chapter Twenty
ONE WEEK LATER, Amarie awoke on a makeshift palette under the large pine tree facing the water. The afternoon started with a hot cup of coffee in her hand, courtesy of Eli, grass in her locs, and her best friend’s daily call. Their conversations had dwindled to fifteen minutes after Vali’s night shifts but before her bedtime. Or, like today when she had seventy-two hours away from the unit, they could relax and catch up. And Amarie could delay looking up her exam results.
Vali’s voice was animated telling tales of patients behaving badly, grabbing a handful of her assets on the sly, but Amarie was candy hearts and gumdrop eyes. And achy lady parts. Being plush in places had advantages. Who knew she could be conditioned for sex in the great outdoors? But she didn’t regret one sore spot. Enthusiastic and generous could be used to describe Eli’s lovemaking. Comparatively, Russell was downright anemic. She’d unwittingly deprived herself of amazing sex. Who knew sweaty, grabby, rolling-in-the-hay—which she was willing to try now—butt-naked sex under the pale eye of a lover’s moon could transform her into a sex addict. She craved Eli’s touch. Couldn’t get enough of his, well, everything.
“Girl, I hate to say this, but you might have to tell Russell to stop calling me for his own safety.”
“No can do.”
“I’m just saying… if he continues with his annoying robocall tactics, I will strangle him with his own baby’s umbilical cord and dump his lifeless body in the hospital morgue,” Vali cackled.
“Aw, block his number. I told my mom to do the same.” Amarie sighed, not a care in the world to consider.
“Excuse me, Madam Butterfly, why do you sound like a breathy video vixen celebrating freaky Friday?”
“Well, it is Thursday. Me and my lady parts are basking in the clean mountain air.” August had abandoned the mountain town but had forgotten to pack the morning humidity in the trunk case.
“Is that why I hear tweety birds singing ‘Rock-In Robin’? You and Eli playing ride-the-pony in the great outdoors?”
“I can affirm there are only stallions on the property.” Amarie squealed, slapping a hand over her mouth before she realized no one could hear or see her. The property was fully secluded by the woodland.
“Mari, you are officially in the bowlegged club.”
“Not just legs. Ankles. Toes. I am remade,” she said in her haughtiest imitation, “like Michelle in Becoming.”
Vali hooted, cackling with laughter. “Eli got you out here talking about his bedroom game like he’s the most powerful man in the world. All I can say is amen.”
“Yes. I screamed that a lot, too.”
“What happens next?”
“Eli wants me to move in—permanently. And… and I want to be with him, Vali.”
“So, what are you saying?” Vali trailed off.
“I think it means… this is my new home.”
“Is that what you want? I mean what about the exam, your career? Eli started as a fake-it-till-you-make-it situation, Mari. The bachelor auction will end, you working with Eli every day at the clinic stops at some point. Will you both feel the same when you’re not in each other’s faces every day?”
Amarie sobered as Vali’s questions confronted old doubts and raised new fears. Ever the optimist, she believed she and Eli would find a way to stay together, even if they worked apart.
“I can see myself planting roots here. I have friends, actual real people who include me in their lives. I love—like my job.” She couldn’t say that she loved Eli, even though her mouth almost revealed the inner workings of her mind. Their relationship was in its infancy. Too much too soon could spell disaster. Confessing her undying love after one week in his bed could be considered premature, reckless, but that didn’t stop her heart from galloping off like the cavalry waving the white flag of complete surrender. She wanted everything with Eli.
“I’m happy for you, I really am, that people include you in their life, but—”
“You’re never quiet. Please don’t be sad, Vali.”
“Silence is not sad. But your life is no less important, girlfriend. If you stay, it means I’ll have to drive five hours to see my best friend and her goats. Are they still alive? I mean, I hear they taste like chicken, a country favorite, with a biscuit, right?”
“Oh dear, I hadn’t considered. Billy, Jean, and Diana have grown so much since your visit. At least a pound. It looks good on them. In pygmy goat terms. That question is at the top of my list for Eli today.”
“Ah, okay,” Vali stammered. “Not that I ever had high hopes for Russell, but you sound sure of your soldier boy.”
“I’ve never been so sure of anything in my life, but I am of Eli. I feel like he makes me better, more centered, and grounded. It’s so foreign to me, but it happened here in Service. I need to explore my feelings for him, and the town.”
“I get it. Maybe it is special to Service, but Mari, you’ve always been grounded and centered. Other people tried to force you to make them your center, that’s why it felt twisted. Now that no one is telling you where you belong, what your worth is, who you have to settle for, you can appreciate the fact that you’ve always had the tools you need to chart your own path.”
Vali was right. She had allowed her parents and Russell and all their expectations to dictate her choices. Now for the first time, she was in charge. More importantly, she had the control and confidence to make her own mistakes separate from their judgment. She’d learned since arriving in Service that she could help others without allowing them to abuse her generosity. She was free to build a future, not free of mistakes but free of self-recrimination and doubt. To need help was not the same as being helpless.
“Where is your soldier boy now?”
“He and his brothers are assembling the last vendor booth for the Founder’s Day Festival on Saturday. He packed up our petting zoo, all five kittens plus Hiccup. I’m in charge of dinner tonight.”
“Nice,” she cooed. “I adore a man who doesn’t mind getting sweaty. Are you still planning to announce the winners of the bachelor auction at the festival?”
“Sure am. Eli’s nervous. All three winning bids are anonymous. He felt more comfortable with only the local ladies bidding. We’ve received a ton more visibility since Kitty Kibbles, that Chicago-based cat food company, the one I told you about, reposted one of our videos on their TikTok page. The possibility of dining with a strange woman off the internet raises his withers.”
“Withers. Come hithers. I don’t speak animal kingdom, but that’s amazing, Mari.”
“Oh, sorry. That’s the highest part of the spine. You know, like a cat’s hackles.”
“Ah, no. I don’t. But the fact is, you are leveling up, sister. You speak English, Country Grammar, and Zoolander.”
Yeah, she had learned a lot about animal anatomy and veterinary medicine during her time in Service. Instead of stressing about her checklists, she just embraced her process. She realized that different didn’t translate to dumb. Eli’s patience and easy acceptance of her rather quirky methodology empowered rather than demeaned her.
“Kind of. The company sent a contract and a check offering #SexyKittyVet a paid brand ambassador opportunity.”
“But?” Vali prompted, excitement lighting her voice.
“They want Eli to live stream on both pages, ours and theirs. He’s stubborn as a blind mule, though. Just flat out refused. I mean, the man is a natural-born influencer. He’s focused, a research nerd, and his smile could power Times Square at Christmas. And the kittens, they’re old enough to be adopted, but he’s so good with them. Instead of grabbing a backpack in the mornings, he scoops them up in their basket and heads to the office. It’s the cutest thing, Vali. But,” she sighed, “two folks, one from Landing Falls, the other from Whynot, plan to stop by the clinic this afternoon to welcome a new furry, purry addition to the family. I’m going to miss them so much.”
“You could change his mind,” Vali teased. “We both know how creative you are. I mean, he is #SexyKittyVet. Those kittens are technically his coworkers.”
“I know, right. I think he should keep #SexyKittyVet alive even after the auction ends, but Eli envisions a different life for himself. And, well, the kittens won’t be babies forever. Can you imagine, Eli and five cats in a basket?”
“Why not? Didn’t some guy keep a cat in a hat? I think it’s sexy and sweet that big daddy takes the kiddos to work and leaves the little lady at home to recover,” Vali mused.
Amarie sighed, first at the loss of the kittens and then at probably losing the brand ambassador contract. The added money could pay for the clinic expansion, but she wouldn’t manipulate Eli into a situation in which he felt uncomfortable. Amarie knew the pain of trying to be anything other than who she was. There would be more opportunities… she hoped. She felt a pang in her heart at releasing any of her kitties, but Eli had assured her that he would see to it that each of her fur babies landed in luxury.
“Vali,” she breathed out. “I’m happy. Really, deeply, and truly happy with my choices. I have fun doing what I love with a great guy. I’m scared the other shoe will drop—”
“Girl, would you stop? Enjoy yourself. Can you do that?”
Amarie fell back on the pallet of sleeping bags and blankets in a fit of giggles. She could count on Vali to lighten any perceived calamity.
“Yes, I can. What can I say—I drop it like it’s hot. And Eli, he’s a fire god.”
“Are you saying Eli is ‘O’ positive, as in orgasm?”
“He was double ‘O’ positive from the first night. And,” she said in a conspiratorial whisper, “last night we hit a triple ‘O’ with a howl.”
Vali screamed like a teenage girl at a sleepover. “I love a man who understands the assignment. Sounds like Eli knows how to keep the doors to the candy shop open.”
“Have I told you how basic you are some days?”
“As if your opinion will change my predilection for carnality.”
“You are absolutely wicked.”
“And proud of it. But truly, us single ladies have to be happy when another melanin poppin’, educated woman finds a man worthy of her time and talent. Yet ironically, I find myself green candy apple jealous. I’m healous, because ain’t no sex been happening in my city, if you catch my meaning. You deserve every good vibration that comes your way.”
Amarie smirked, even though her friend couldn’t see her expression. “Really, Vali? Vibrations that come my way.”
She snickered. “Caught that, did you?”
“Congratulations, Miss Walker.” Amarie bolted upright at the new voice coming through the receiver. Vali’s sister, Sunday, had overheard the conversation.
“Sunday,” Amarie screeched. “Go to your room. Now.”
“No can do, my sister from another mister,” she singsonged. “I’m taking notes. Love your #SexyKittyVet videos so hard, too. Please, ask SimplyTobias if he likes his Sunday with a shaved cherry?”
“Wh-what,” Amarie sputtered, coffee dribbled off her chin. “Sunday, you are a mess. Vali, will you tell your X-rated sister to warn me before she puts shaved cherries and sexual metaphors in the same sentence? Real talk, I could have choked on this coffee. I’m blaming you for any and all future complications.”
Vali came back on the line, laughing. Amarie missed their Saturday mornings on that horrid crescent-shaped couch.
“You ran her off, so there, problem solved. And since you’ve only mentioned z luv doctor, I’m assuming you haven’t had a chance to visit your online portal about your exam results, hmm?”
Amarie’s voice hitched. She’d zoned out on her career. On her future. “I-I’m…”
Scared. After walking out of the testing center, Eli had kept her beneath him, on top him, beside him. Testing results had fallen off her anxiety list until today. Because the stress of the exam had ended with the final question. And once her man—she’d come to think of Eli as hers—had successfully distracted her in the most pleasurable ways.
“Don’t fret. You’re experiencing the six symptoms of an ‘O’ positive man encounter. Sore cheeks. Scratchy throat. Loss of speech. Profuse sweating. Spillage of time. Booty bruises.”
Amarie felt her butt cheeks clench. How did Vali come up with this mess?
“Not to worry, my worn-out friend. When a woman encounters good D, a temporary disruption of synaptic activity occurs at random intervals.”
“In Eli’s case, that’s great D,” Amarie interrupted.
“I stand corrected and pleased.” Vali laughed. “Getting butt naked with a sexy kitty vet isn’t in my archives. The annals will be updated before the end of the day.”
“Vali,” Amarie rasped, nervous for the first time in days. “The results. I need to get to my computer.”
Amarie grabbed a gingham throw, covered her breasts, unnecessary since she remained secluded on Eli’s property, and rose to her knees, careful not to spill her mug.
“Relax, I got your back, girlfriend. I have the site pulled up. What’s your password?” Amarie quickly rattled off the secure details. She had always been a nervous test taker. Not this time. The nightly study sessions with Eli quizzing her had helped her to build a system to de-escalate her stress levels during the two-day testing sessions. As the seconds ticked by, though, panic set in. The birds she heard chirping were replaced with the pounding of her own heart.
“Oh my God, Vali. What’s taking so long?”
“The website needs a saline enema,” Vali chided. “The spinning wheel of death has me in its grips.”
At times like this, she cursed technology. What if she hadn’t passed? She couldn’t go on as an assistant to her boyfriend, dependent on his income, his housing, his—everything.
“Not again,” she whispered, the cup shaking in her grasp. “Vali, did I get close this time?”
“Wait—wait. Something’s happening on the page.” She paused, mid-sentence. “Oh my god,” she gasped. What did that mean? Vali didn’t gasp. She didn’t flinch in the face of disappointment.
“It’s worse than last time, isn’t it?” She’d arrived in Service with goals, dreams. Her plans hinged on passing the exam. Her new friends would learn she failed at everything.
“Honey.” Vali’s voice cracked.
Amarie rose to her feet, stiffening her spine. She would meet her fate head-on, standing proud. She’d done her best. Truly in her heart she’d studied, sacrificed, and learned to embrace her process. She believed herself capable of building the life she wanted.
“Say it, Vali.”
“Welcome to the achy-feet club, Mari.” Had she heard that right? Vali’s screamed. “You not only passed, my sister, but you aced the darn thing.”
“Flying colors, Amarie. You can write your own job description,” Sunday screamed, reaching an operatic pitch.
Amarie jerked the phone away from her ear. Her feet left the ground. Not quite a Simone Biles leap, but enough to splash her coffee, now warm, over the rim. The blanket she held to her breast slipped from her grasp.
All the dance moves Eli had taught her—Watermelon Crawl, Cotton-Eyed Joe, Old Town Road, The Git Up—she did them, butt naked. Screaming, her voice bounced between the trees traveling across the water, up the mountain. Inside, she felt the growing wave of love, self-love. She’d succeeded in not failing herself.
“Mari. Mari. Where are you, lady?”
Amarie eased the phone back to her ear, panting from exertion. “I’m doing my dance. I’m a registered nurse. I can’t believe it.”
“Believe it. I never doubted you.” Yes. They had done it. She and Eli, together. “Have you thought about your specialty?”
Huh, she’d spent months focused on the exam. Amarie thought about Eli’s words, the shield-maiden of women and children.
“Labor and delivery. Maybe pediatrics,” she finally replied.
“Whew, you had me worried you’d choose animals instead of patients for a second. Don’t let go of your dreams, girl. I know you’re living the best days of your life in Service, but is there a general hospital on Main Street?”
“I wish. The closest hospital is ninety miles away in Hopes Summit,” Amarie replied, but her heart skipped a beat. Maybe she could help to remedy the health professional shortage in rural communities and improve patient outcomes. She’d earned her credentials. The perky late bloomer had blossomed into a nightingale. “I’ve got to text my mom. And Eli. He helped me study every night for weeks. I can’t wait to tell him.”
“Yasss,” Vali drawled. “Tell him all night long.”
“Would you stop talking about sex?”
“Absolutely—not. I’m happy for you,” she sighed. “You found your perfect guy, Mari. Now that’s some Black girl magic, right there.”
“Thanks, friend.”
“Don’t thank me. Help me, girl. The next time you’re in that little general store, post a picture of me. Let the country boys know your friend is not only available, but I’ll put in the miles for a big—”
“Bye, Vali.” Amarie cut the line.
There’d been a time when her best friend was the first person she wanted to share all the big moments of her life with, not that there were many. But this time she wanted to share this with Eli even more. She would pick a special location because she needed him good and relaxed when she mentioned hiring her replacement. Eli loved Service and so did Amarie. Her having the career she’d always dreamed of wouldn’t be a stumbling block for them. Together, they would find a workable solution. After all, they were a perfect match. She could still honor the promise to herself and keep her boyfriend, right?