Dustin's Turn Read online

  Dustin’s Turn

  By

  June Kramin

  Dustin’s Turn

  By June Kramin

  Copyright © 2012 by June Kramin

  …

  All Rights Reserved. Except as permitted under the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without prior written permission of the publisher.

  …

  This book is a work of fiction. While references may be made to actual places or events, the names, characters, incidents, and locations within are from the author’s imagination and are not a resemblance to actual living or dead persons, businesses, or events. Any similarity is coincidental.

  Published by Pau Hana Books

  Smashwords edition

  August 2014

  Originally published in September, 2012 By Champagne Books, Canada

  This book is licensed to the original purchaser only. Duplication or distribution via any means is illegal and a violation of International Copyright Law, subject to criminal prosecution and upon conviction, fines and/or imprisonment. No part of this book can be reproduced or sold by any person or business without the express permission of the publisher.

  ISBN: 978-1310277238

  Published in the United States of America

  Cover Art by Valerie Kramin

  Stock images: Dreamstime

  Dedication

  For Adam & Haggis. Thanks for making me figure out Frank!

  And Tiami for wanting more Courtney.

  And special thanks to "George" & Danny for the great visit and all your little quirks that made their way into this book. Love you two!

  Chapter One

  Kaitlyn bolted upright when the phone rang before six o’clock Wednesday morning. She didn’t bother to look at the caller ID. Only one person would dare call her before the kids woke up.

  “Hey, Court. What the hell is so important that you can’t wait for Alexander to start wailing?” She said it with teasing love, not anger. Even after all the years, Kaitlyn and Courtney never lost the banter they’d shared when they were roommates in college.

  Through her moving in with Dusty, the marriage, then children, they’d always remained close. Even at that, Kaitlyn had never shared her time traveling experiences with Courtney. Dusty and his sister, Alyson, knew and that was already two too many.

  There had been no episodes since Katie last saw Frank, the kind custodian from the library who’d been the one person she could speak to as she went through her time traveling ordeal. He never did much more than lend an ear, but Katie could not have gotten through it without him.

  Katie last saw him outside the window the day they arrived home from the hospital with their son, Alexander. She and Dusty had hardly mentioned Frank since then, wanting to put everything behind them and live a normal life.

  That was also the day Dusty opened up the box containing his first novel, Captain Skinnard’s Nebula. Throughout Katie’s trips, one of the constants was convincing Dusty to finish it. With more urging from her, he’d slowly plugged away at its sequel on weekends and an occasional sleepless night.

  Kaitlyn was quiet while Courtney explained the reason for the call. The “What?” that she screamed made Dusty shoot awake. “Oh my God, hon. I’ll be right there.” She hung up before any protests formed on her best friend’s lips.

  “What’s wrong?” Dusty asked. His hands were on his wife’s shoulder, he was frantic with worry for her chubby best friend that he’d grown to adore.

  “She’s sick.”

  His head slightly tilted in confusion. “And that is going to make you drop everything and fly to Seattle?”

  “She’s dying, Dusty.” Kaitlyn burst into tears after she blurted it out, barely audible. He held her tight, stroking her hair as she sobbed. Her once shoulder-length hair was now half way down her back. Two pregnancies had made her hair grow like wildfire. She let it go rather than fight it, especially after Dusty voiced his love of long hair.

  When the sobbing subsided, she sat up and told him what Courtney had shared with her during their brief conversation. “It’s AIDS.”

  “AIDS? Shit, baby.” He never stopped with his onslaught of nicknames, but when he wasn’t being a tease about it, he still used “baby.” “I like ‘baby’ best. Can we just stick with that?” Kaitlyn had asked him years ago from a hospital bed. “Sure, puddin’. Anything my cupcake wants, my sugar gets.”

  “She just found out. There aren’t any symptoms yet. She’s going into the hospital this morning for some tests, so they can see exactly how progressive it is. I think she was just the right amount of drunk to call. It didn’t seem as if she really wanted to tell me.” Again she rested her head on his shoulder. “I need to go see her.”

  “Of course you can go. Leave the kids. You don’t need to be traveling with them. I can work from home.”

  “But I’m still nursing.”

  “You said a few days ago that you’ve been thinking it’s time to wean Alex. He’s sixteen months old. I’m more interested in your boobs than he is.”

  Kaitlyn laughed softly and sat up.

  “You’ve more than done your duty, baby.”

  “But I nursed Alyson till she was almost two.”

  “You were also pregnant again. You’ve done your job, mommy. It’s time to claim your body back.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “Of course I’m sure. I’ll have him so distracted he won’t even miss the evening boobies. I wish I could say the same about me.”

  She managed a grin. “Always a one track mind.”

  “And not you? Why do you think I married you, you nympho?”

  “You married me because I went through time for you, you bastard.”

  “That, too.” He gave her a gentle kiss. “Start packing. I’ll book you flight.”

  While Katie packed, Dusty took care of the kids. Katie had pumped last night. Now was as good a time as any to try to get Alex to take the milk from him. He hadn’t been too successful when he’d tried before, but there was never a reason for him to force the issue. A few minutes proved he wasn’t going to be successful now, either. Katie came down the stairs at the fussing. Their daughter, Alyson, was at the table eating waffles, while Dusty sat with a squirming Alex. Immediately the baby reached for her.

  “Katie, he has to learn. In a few hours, you won’t be here.”

  “But I am here, Dusty. This will be my last time ever to nurse him.”

  “But if you don’t pump, I’ll have nothing to give him when you’re gone.” Dusty tried to stay firm. But when he saw tears pool in her eyes, he caved. He stood and handed her Alex. “Are those for him or Courtney?”

  “Yes,” she said, hugging the baby tight.

  “He’s old enough for whole milk. We don’t need to do the crossover to formula. He’ll probably take it from a sippy cup better than from a bottle.”

  “You’re probably right. He won’t fight you with that from the highchair, I’m sure.” She ruffled her daughter’s hair. “You’ll help Daddy, won’t you, honey?” A nod sufficed as an answer.

  “Feed him, and then enjoy your freedom.” Dusty said. “I suspect you and Courtney will get bombed as soon as she can get out of the hospital.”

  “There’s an idea.” She was finally able to force a slight smile. “When’s my flight?”

  “We need to leave in two hours if I’m going to get you there in time for your security groping.”

  “Dammit. I should have bought that underwear I saw online.”

  “What underwear?”

  “It makes the people looking at the scanner screens see stars where my girly parts are.”

 
He laughed. “Since when are you shy?”

  “Shy has nothing to do with it. I just think the whole new process is disgusting.”

  “So take the pat down.”

  “That’s so much better.”

  “Babe, you know you’re just being difficult.”

  Crossing her arms, she said, “I’m crabby. I hate flying these days.”

  He stepped closer to her. “You go nurse him and I’ll ask Mrs. Nelson next door to watch the kids for a couple of hours. I’ll say it’s so I can take you to the airport. We’ll steal the extra time so I can have my way with you.”

  “I don’t know how long I’ll be. What makes you think I want to give up any time from my kids to have sex, Dusty?”

  “Hello. I’m married to you. Get your time in now. You’re not leaving without a proper goodbye.”

  She smirked. “Didn’t fall for that for a second, did you?”

  “Nope.”

  Alex was starting to get impatient, so she sat down on the couch. “Tell Ali she can come eat on the couch so she can sit with me.”

  “She’s probably just about done.”

  “Even better. Less mess for you to clean up from the couch after I’m gone.”

  “She had waffles.”

  “Good. And don’t you dare wash that sticky face. Please send her in to me,” she pleaded.

  Dusty leaned over the couch and kissed her cheek. “You got it.”

  While Katie nursed, she explained to her daughter that she had to go see Auntie Courtney.

  “Is she in a pickle, Mommy?”

  Katie smiled at her. It was funny how Ali had adopted the phrase after overhearing Katie use it once when she dared mention Frank.

  “No, peanut. She’s sick. I’m going to help her with her doctor appointment.”

  “But she is a doctor.”

  “Doctors still need to see the doctor sometimes, too, sweetheart.”

  “Will she get a sucker?”

  “Only if she’s good.” Katie hugged her daughter with her free arm. She’d never been away from her kids for any length of time before. It was hard to fight the tears.

  After long rounds of hugs and kisses, Katie walked the kids over to the neighbor’s house. Mrs. Nelson loved having the kids at her place rather than going to Dusty and Katie’s to watch them. She was a widow, but had a full backyard playground. It was open to any kids wanting to play there. Her grandkids lived far away and didn’t visit often enough. All the neighborhood kids called her Grandma.

  Although Katie wasn’t done with the smothering, the kids were eager to escape it and run to the neighbor’s arms.

  After loading the bags into his truck, Dusty found Katie upstairs in his favorite nightgown of hers, ready to bid him a proper goodbye.

  “How are we going to survive?” he asked as he removed his shirt.

  “We’ve gone weeks before.”

  “Only the post pregnancy healing weeks and you’re the one I had to force to wait until the doctor’s okay,” Dusty said.

  “What can I say? I got spoiled having sex with you. Each one of you,” she said with a giggle as she pulled him onto the bed.

  “I wish all of those were in my memory as well.”

  She rolled on top of him. “You should be happy that the only man of my dreams is you.”

  “Ditto, sugar. Well, you know what I mean.”

  “There’s the writer that I know and love who is always wonderful with words.”

  “It’s a gift.”

  After a quick non-stop flight and a cab ride, Kaitlyn walked into her best friend’s hospital room. Courtney saw her, lit up with a big smile, then immediately burst into tears. Katie rushed over, not hesitating for a moment before crawling in bed with her. They held each other close as they cried together.

  “Are you sure?” Kaitlyn said when they finally broke apart.

  Courtney nodded. “They’ve done the test twice.”

  “But you caught it early. The treatments get better all the time. Right? This can’t be as bad as it used to be.”

  “It’s AIDS, hon. I’ll be worm food in a matter of years.”

  “Don’t talk like that. You’re a fighter.”

  “I’m also a doctor. Who wants a doctor with AIDS working on them? I might as well just die and get it over with.”

  “Stop it. Take some time off and come stay with us for a while. You need time for this to sink in.”

  “It’s as sunk as it’s getting.”

  “How…I mean when…who did you get it from? I know you were a little promiscuous in college, but you were careful. Weren’t you?”

  “I was always protected. I all but made those bastards double wrap the thing.”

  “So how then? I know you didn’t use drugs.”

  “I slipped once; that’s all it took.”

  “Who was it with?”

  “Remember the night I kept you up when I was doin’ it with you in the room? You were mad the next morning.”

  “I do. Ronald? It was him?”

  Courtney nodded again. “It was him, but that wasn’t the night. It was shortly after you moved in with Dusty. He got in the habit of coming over after his late shift. He ended up falling asleep there once and we were careless the next morning. We had too much to drink and I think I was still drunk. Gotta love the ‘morning wood’ with the brain of its own.” Kaitlyn grasped her hand. “I slipped, Katie. I never dreamed it would come to this.”

  Katie held her tight. “I’m sorry.”

  “I know you. You’re blaming yourself for moving out.” Pushing her back, Courtney said, “Don’t go there, hon. Please. This is a bad enough guilt trip on me. I don’t want yours, too.”

  “I won’t do that to you. You said you didn’t have symptoms yet. How did you find out?”

  “A hospital in Minneapolis called me. Ronald tested positive. They insisted on knowing every lover he’d had for the past seven years.” She let out a heavy breath. “Knowing him, it must have been one hell of a list.”

  “But you’ve had no symptoms. You’ve never suspected anything?”

  “It stays dormant sometimes for a while. I never thought to have myself tested. I didn’t need to. I mean, I guess I should have. Maybe if I were a surgeon, the administration would have done it automatically. I’ve been straining to remember every procedure I’ve ever done. I’ve never bled on anyone or so much as coughed on a patient. I’m certain I haven’t given it to anyone else. Can you imagine if I infected a child?” Courtney’s voice cracked; once again Katie held her tight.

  “But you didn’t. Don’t think that way.”

  “How can I not? I’ve given my notice.”

  “Hon, no. What are you going to do?”

  Courtney shrugged.

  “When do you get released?”

  “After rounds this afternoon.”

  “I have an unlimited leave of absence from the house courtesy of Dusty. I’m also officially done nursing. Let’s get drunk.”

  “You’re on.”

  Chapter Two

  After Dusty dropped Katie off at the airport, he parked his SUV at home then walked over to the neighbor’s. Mrs. Nelson was overjoyed to watch the kids for a few more hours when he asked her. The kids barely acknowledged him with a wave. Ann, another neighbor, was there with her two children. They were busy playing with Ali and Alex. Their children were close in age. Katie often arranged play dates with them, as well as the couples taking turns hosting dinner parties. They were the closest friends Katie and Dusty had. He waved to her, not particularly wanting to go into any details about Katie’s trip yet.

  “Hey, handsome,” Ann hollered back. “Where’d that pretty little wife of yours take off to?”

  Shit. Mrs. Nelson had already let the cat out of the bag. “I’ll fill you in later, all right? I have to run an errand.”

  “Sounds good. I’ll bring over my Shrimp Alfredo hot dish tonight so you don’t have to mess with supper.”

  “Much appreciated, Ann.
I’ll pick up some garlic cheese bread and a tackle box of beer while I’m out. Don’t drop it off, you and Cal stay.”

  “He’s in Chicago till Wednesday.”

  “So it’ll be just us. I love giving old Greta a rumor to spread.”

  Ann laughed. “It’s a date. I’ll be there at six.”

  On the other side of their house was a vacant home. It had been unoccupied, with a for sale sign in the yard, for over three years. It was huge and gorgeous, but overpriced, especially in the present market. The owners weren’t in a rush to sell, so it sat empty. Across from this house, however, lived Greta: the Gladys Kravitz of the neighborhood. She didn’t miss a thing that happened in the neighborhood. If by chance she did, she filled in the details herself. Dusty often toyed with her and Katie threw a little fun her way sometimes as well. They’d walked by with the kids one day and heard her say, “Look, there goes God now.” Dusty could only laugh and say, “I told you—you were loud, baby.”

  Dusty thanked Ann again. “I have to split.” He said his goodbyes to the kids and Mrs. Nelson. He thought his so-called errand was insane, but he wanted to do it anyway.

  About an hour later, he found himself in front of their old college library. He reminisced for a moment before climbing the front stairs. It was here that he’d learned Katie was staying for good and their lives together had officially started. For him anyway. She had almost a year of memories of the two of them under her belt already; he was eager to catch up to her. She wasn’t thrilled to live a few years over again, but Dusty vowed to make it worth it for her. Despite the short time they’d had together and the crazy things they went through, he couldn’t imagine living another day without her in his life.

  Walking through the front door, he smiled at the familiar sights. College kids mingled in the aisles and sat quietly at the tables, studying. It hadn’t been that long ago for him, but Dusty thought the kids were awfully young to be in college.