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  “Good luck. I know Kelly’s been happy working there for years. Let me know how it goes.”

  “I will. Thanks.” Debby finished her food and stood to stretch her back. “I’m heading home. You guys enjoy the rest of the party, and I’ll talk to you next week.”

  *

  Debby tossed her daypack on the chair next to her front door and hung her keys on the hook mounted on the wall. She had used the hour-long drive across town to reflect on her social life, or lack of one. By the time she had pulled into her driveway, she had convinced herself that attending her new friends’ wedding would be fun. She hadn’t been dancing at the club for several weeks, and she missed the connection of holding a woman in her arms. Surely she could find someone interested in joining her for a lesbian wedding without thinking it was some kind of weird commitment thing.

  “Okay, okay, you fat cat.” She picked up her mewling seal point Himalayan and hugged him until he squirmed and pushed himself out of her arms. She put down some kibble and checked his water bowl. “I’m going to make myself a cup of tea if that’s all right with you.” Debby chuckled at her cat purring his approval as he ate.

  Debby went out to toss some hay into Shadow’s hay feeder and set up his stall for the night before returning inside to settle into her favorite chair with her laptop and cup of green tea. She had heard her pharmacy tech talking about a bike ride she had attended with a group of people she had met on something called a Meetup. She Googled it and began her search.

  Half an hour later, she had narrowed down her search to two lesbian groups in her area that were interested in social events. The first event was a hike through a nearby state park. This could work. Maybe this was a good place to find a woman who would respect her boundaries and be willing to accompany her as a platonic companion. She knew her friend Kelly would be risk-free, but the other women in her life were either, coworkers, one-night stands, or wanted more than she was willing to give. I need someone new, but safe.

  “This sounds promising doesn’t it, Buddy?” Buddy had nestled in her lap as she was browsing, and she absorbed the serenity of his purring as she stroked his soft fur.

  She printed out the meeting information and pulled her list from the desk drawer. Her list was her protection from anyone daring to venture close to her shattered heart. It consisted of the mandatory requirements in a lover. Top of the list were openness and honesty. She wasn’t going to repeat the pain she’d suffered with her deceitful lover of six years. She reviewed the important requisites and reverently placed it away, certain she wouldn’t need to refer to it, but always reassured by its presence.

  *

  “Thanks for covering for me tomorrow, Jake. I appreciate it.” Debby glanced at her fellow pharmacist as she pasted a label on a prescription bottle she’d filled.

  “No problem. Patsy’s working a twelve-hour shift, so I’d just be home watching the baseball game and eating pizza and ice cream. My wife and my waistline thank you.” Jake grinned and began counting pills onto a pill counter.

  “That sounds pretty good to me. You sure you wouldn’t want the down time?”

  “Nah. I’d rather have the time off when Pat and I can do something together. We’ve been talking about a trip to the zoo since May. It seems like whenever we plan a date day, our daughter calls about our granddaughter’s soccer game or baseball tournament.” Jake stopped what he was working on and turned to face Debby. “So, what’s up tomorrow? You’ve been awfully tightlipped about it. Is everything okay?”

  Debby avoided Jake’s gaze as she considered how much she wanted to share with him. She’d worked with him for three years and considered him a friend, but she didn’t want to put him in a position to lie to their boss if asked where she was. She needed to meet with the administration of the nursing home before letting him know she might be leaving.

  “Yeah. Everything’s fine. I’m just burned out, you know? I need a day to do nothing.”

  “I get it. It’s pretty hectic around here, especially in the summer when we have to cover for people on vacation. I’ll be right back. I’ve got to go to the back to finish filling this script.” Jake squeezed past her and disappeared through a door at the back of the room.

  She was used to working alone, so Jake’s departure didn’t bother her. She filled prescriptions and tried her best to avoid answering the phone. A daily occurrence lately was someone with twenty questions about his or her prescription, and this day was no exception. The large woman standing at the “consultation” area shifted from foot to foot and drummed her fingers on the counter.

  “Hello. Can I help you with something?” Debby had quit bothering to introduce herself to customers. Pharmacist and her name were clearly imprinted on her lab coat. They didn’t care who she was, anyway.

  “I want to know why I can’t eat grapefruit anymore.” The woman, wide-eyed and red-faced, leaned against the counter, pushing toward her. Debby retreated a step.

  “What medication are you on, ma’am?”

  “It’s for cholesterol. My doctor didn’t say a word about this. The pamphlet that came with this stuff says to avoid grapefruit. How am I supposed to lose the weight he wants me to without eating grapefruit? What’s the problem?”

  Debby took a settling breath before replying. “There’s a compound in grapefruit that interacts with some of the cholesterol lowering drugs called statins. Which medicine are you taking?”

  “How am I supposed to know? You’re the pharmacist.”

  “Okay. What’s your last name?” Debby moved to the computer.

  “Zantis,” the woman said.

  “First name, Ginger?”

  “Yes.”

  “Date of birth?”

  “Why do you people always ask me that?”

  “It’s for security purposes, Ms. Zantis.”

  “You know, I don’t care. I’m going to continue my grapefruit and egg diet. I don’t have time for this nonsense.” She turned and hurried out the door.

  Debby logged off the computer and headed to the employee restroom where she splashed water on her face and stretched to relieve the tension in her back. Her job interview the next day couldn’t come soon enough.

  *

  “Hey there. What’re you doing here?” Kelly Newton, the day shift nursing supervisor, and Debby’s long-time friend, stood in the hallway outside the nurses’ station.

  “Hi, Kelly. I’m here for an interview for a position in the pharmacy. I’ve got an eight a.m. appointment,” Debby said.

  “Cool. I’m glad you decided to try Serenity Care. I love it here. Are you here to see Janis?”

  “Yes. That’s who I spoke to on the phone,” Debby said.

  “Come on, I’ll show you to her office.” Kelly handed the patient’s chart she was holding to one of the nurses at the desk and led Debby through a set of doors at the end of the hall. “You’ll like Jan. She pretty much singlehandedly runs the place and does an excellent job of balancing the patient’s care with the financial realities of a nursing home. Here’s her office. Good luck, and stop and see me on the way out.”

  “Thanks, Kelly. I will.”

  Debby took a seat opposite the empty chair at a beautiful mahogany desk. A svelte woman with salt-and-pepper short hair and an engaging smile entered the room within a few minutes.

  “Good morning. I’m Janis Smith. You must be Debra.”

  Debby took Janis’s outstretched hand in a firm grip. “Yes. I’m Debra Johnson. It’s good to meet you in person, Ms. Smith.”

  Debby glanced at the clock above the desk and noted Janis’s punctuality. Her gaze was direct and her body language laid-back. Everything she hoped for in a boss.

  “Please call me Jan. So, you’re a pharmacist looking to get out of Walgreens.”

  Jan’s grin and easy nature were soothing. “Yes to both,” Debby said. “And please call me Debby.”

  Debby explained her situation, and they talked for an hour before Jan checked her watch and smiled.

>   “I’ve got a meeting in ten minutes. Let me show you the pharmacy. It’s on the way.” Jan stood and leaned on her desk. “We have a board certified geriatric consultant pharmacist on staff, and I think you’d be an excellent addition to our group. When can you start?” She offered her hand again in acknowledgment.

  “Thank you. I look forward to joining your staff. I’ll report for duty in two weeks, when I’ve worked out my notice.”

  Debby couldn’t contain her grin as she made her way back to Kelly’s station, but Kelly was nowhere to be seen, so she left a message with the nurse on duty and left. She sat in her car for a few minutes reviewing all she and Jan had talked about. She planned to apply for the geriatric pharmaceutical exam in the fall and show Jan she was willing to do whatever it took to be the best she could be in her new position. The pharmacy looked well stocked and extremely organized. She couldn’t wait to get started and meet the rest of the staff. She thought of Jake and his friendship for the past few years and realized that was the only thing she’d miss. She blew out a breath and rested her head against the headrest for a minute to enjoy the feeling of anticipation.

  Chapter Three

  Debby pulled into the park ten minutes before the Meetup event was scheduled to begin. She parked and headed to the pavilion, where she saw a group of women standing near the picnic tables. She sighed in relief when she didn’t recognize anyone. At least she wouldn’t have to deal with the awkwardness of running into an ex-one-night-stand. One woman stood out from the crowd. She stood off to the side, looking shy. She seemed to be taking in the whole group, looking around almost warily. Her short, highlighted hair shone in the afternoon sunshine, and her tan legs below her khaki shorts looked toned, as if she walked on a regular basis. Her long-sleeved T-shirt pleasantly hugged her breasts but seemed a bit much for the warm summer day.

  Debby approached the woman and stuck out her hand in greeting. “Hi. My name’s Debra Johnson. Most people call me Debby.”

  She lost her train of thought for a moment as the woman turned her wary gaze on her. Her eyes were gray, with tiny gold flecks that seemed to emit light rather than reflect it.

  “Nice to meet you, Debby. I’m Alexandra Reed. Please call me Alex.” Alex enveloped her hand in a warm, soft, and solid grip.

  A tingle raced up her arm and heat rose to her face. Alex was an inch or so shorter than her but with a presence that declared she could take care of herself. She wondered about Alex’s first impression of her, and that thought disturbed her. She reverted to the safety of item three on her list. It doesn’t matter what others think.

  “This looks like fun. There’s quite a few women here,” Debby said.

  “Is this your first Meetup?” Alex asked.

  “Yeah. I hadn’t even heard of them until a coworker mentioned she’d found a group to bike ride with. I Googled it and found this bunch. I prefer the idea of walking the paths of the state park as opposed to peddling for miles. How about you?”

  “I’ve heard of Meetups, but this is the first one I’ve tried, and I prefer walking to riding a bike, too.”

  Their conversation was interrupted by a tall blonde signaling for attention.

  “Hello, everyone. I’m glad to see such a good turnout. My name’s Nat, and I initiated this Meetup. Some of you may know about this park, but if you’re new here I’ll let you know that the hiking trails are not long, but well-marked, and I love walking them. I hope you all enjoy yourselves. Like I said, my name’s Nat and this is my partner, Joy.” Nat took the hand of her much shorter partner and kissed her palm. “We’d love to get to know all of you today and on future Meetups. We’re taking the longest trail that starts there.” Nat pointed in the direction of a small picnic area to their right. “We plan to stop at the first turnout, which is about a mile away. We look forward to chatting with you.”

  The group of women followed Nat and Joy to the paved path and broke up into small groups. A woman named Leslie introduced herself and fell into step with Debby and Alex. She stopped every few feet to point out a mushroom and prattle on about its type and poisonous properties. Debby feigned interest and listened politely until her patience ran out.

  “Do you care about fungi?” Debby whispered to Alex while Leslie cooed over a particularly large capped mushroom.

  “Not a bit,” Alex whispered. “I don’t even like to eat them.”

  Debby laughed. “Well, at this rate we won’t reach the one-mile mark until tomorrow, but I suppose I ought to consider it a learning experience.”

  “Right. You never know when you’ll be asked about a mushroom.” Alex looked serious until a slight grin gave her away.

  Debby refrained from reaching to hold her hand, surprised at how natural it would feel. She and Alex fell into an easy gait and walked in comfortable silence, content to let Leslie give lessons on the spore-bearing fruiting body of a fungus.

  She liked Alex’s sense of humor, and she seemed nice, but she needed to find out if Alex was single before making a decision on the invitation to the wedding. No way was she getting in the middle of a couple. The incredibly important number two on her list: a single lesbian. She didn’t know why she kept associating Alex with her list. The wedding was her concern, not a real date, which meant the list didn’t apply.

  “Do you live around here?” Debby asked. Leslie had wandered off the path to look at some moldy thing she found particularly exciting.

  “Not far. In fact, I walk my dog here. It’s usually not too crowded, and I like that the trails are paved. Do you live nearby?”

  “I live just outside of Novi, so it’s pretty close. Just you and your dog, then?”

  “Yep.”

  Alex’s response probably ruled out a lover at home waiting for her. “I see the group is congregating. Let’s grab a seat at the tables.”

  She followed Alex to the pavilion. She would plan to attend the next event with this group, spend a little more time with Alex, and make a decision to ask her to the wedding after that. There was no hurry, and even if she was only looking for a friend, she was determined to be careful with her heart.

  *

  Alex silently chided herself for nearly telling Debby about her previous walking group. She needed to work harder at thinking of her prior self in third person, but she found herself distracted by the way Debby’s beautiful brown eyes twinkled when she smiled, and the small laugh lines around her eyes indicated they were probably the same age. She was tan and her body toned, as if she worked out. Alex vowed to work harder to lose the ten pounds she had put on over the past year. Debby was a little taller than she was, and Alex noticed how comfortably they could have held hands as they walked. She pushed away the unexpected attraction and concentrated on how to deflect any questions about her past.

  The group had arrived at the meeting point Nat had chosen and settled onto a few picnic tables located under a pavilion. Debby sat across from her, and Leslie took the spot on her left.

  “So, did you two come to the Meetup together?” Leslie asked.

  “No,” Alex answered quickly, and Debby shifted, looking uncomfortable.

  “No. We just met today,” Debby said.

  “Oh. Sorry.” Leslie waved her hand in the air as if dismissing her own idea. “I just love it here, don’t you? I’m going to sign up for all their hikes. Hey, would you guys like to help me start our own Meetup? We can go hunting mushrooms throughout the woods of Michigan.” Leslie beamed, spread out her arms, and looked back and forth at them.

  “I’m going to pass on the mushroom hunting,” Debby said.

  “Me, too, I’m afraid. I don’t know anything about them,” Alex said.

  “I’ll be happy to teach you.” Leslie hugged the pile of accumulated mushrooms she had deposited on the table.

  Alex looked at Debby across the table and smothered a giggle. She looked like she was struggling not to laugh, too.

  “You post the Meetup, Leslie. I’m sure there’re plenty of other people interested,” Alex
said.

  Leslie looked slightly disgruntled as she scooped up her mushrooms and deposited them into a plastic bag she’d pulled from her daypack, before leaving to join another group of women.

  They sat enjoying the bird sounds and the light chatter of the group for a few minutes before Debby spoke.

  “I’d like to join this group on another hike. It was fun walking with you. I hope you can make it, too.”

  “I’d love to plan on it. In fact, I’ll bring my dog, Abby. She’d enjoy the walk, and she’s great with people. I suppose I should ask if anyone minds first, huh?” Alex looked for Nat but couldn’t see her anywhere.

  “I see Joy at the far table. I’ll walk over with you.”

  Alex confirmed that she could bring her dog on the next outing and began the walk to the parking lot with Debby.

  “This walk is certainly more peaceful without the drone of lessons on mushrooms.” Debby chuckled and kicked a fallen branch off the path in front of them.

  “Yes, it is, but Leslie was nice. I liked her enthusiasm, even if I didn’t share it.”

  “She was nice. We’ll probably see her again trying to convince someone to join her mushroom hunting group.”

  They strolled the rest of the way in companionable silence, and Alex stifled the yearning to drop her guard. She mentally reviewed her lessons on keeping the focus off of herself.

  “Do you have any pets?” Alex asked.

  “I do. I rescued a cat a couple of months ago, and I have a horse that I ride in barrel racing competitions.”

  “Cool. I love horses. I used to…never mind.” Alex fumbled for her keys in her waist pack and hoped Debby didn’t ask questions. “I’ll see you at the next walk.” She rushed to her car, the ever-present feeling of panic surging through her. She gave Debby a weak wave as she drove away, trying to ignore the slightly puzzled expression on her face. Running. Always running.