Come and Talk to Me Page 2

  “Why?”

  “They pick up the tab on the service-related injuries. Your husband has Champus; that’s military insurance.”

  “I’m aware of his insurance coverage, Doctor Miller. I’ve been down this bullshit road already several times. He’s had a procedure done in Miami. That wasn’t a military hospital. They billed Champus.”

  “Well, I’m afraid we can’t do that type of procedure on him here. We’re not authorized to so much as move him until we get their okay. It’s not life-threatening and he can be stabilized. We can keep the pain under control until we get word.”

  “More friggin’ drugs,” she huffed. “When will you be able move him?”

  “As soon as we get the okay. I’m sorry, but all we can do is keep him comfortable until we hear something. It shouldn’t be long.”

  “Fair is fair,” Van said as he delivered two Long Island iced teas. “Now we’re even for the beer. I’ll still take a rain check on that tip, though.” He gave her a wink and walked away.

  “He makes a good drink but he’s a little full of himself,” Reggie said to Bri.

  “Come on, girl. It’s been two years. You need to start dating again.”

  “I don’t feel like dating any man right now, Bri. I wouldn’t care if Matthew McConaughey knocked my door down.”

  “You batting for the other team on me?”

  Reggie laughed. “I’d become a lesbian if I didn’t hate women more than I hated men.”

  “He’s cute and he’s sweet. I like him, Reg. Give him a chance.”

  “I love you, but knock it off, Bri.”

  “So he knows he’s good looking. So what? That smile would melt a blind nun.”

  “You are too much. Besides, didn’t you tell me to stay away from military men?”

  “Since when do you listen to me? Please promise to at least be civil over dinner.”

  “No claws, Bri. I promise.”

  As promised, Regina behaved through dinner. Van minded himself as well, staying away from obvious sexual innuendos to keep peace over the meal. Troy suggested a walk back to the beach for sunset when they finished, and everyone was game. Unknowingly making their friends uncomfortable, Troy and Sabrina shared several long kisses over the sunset. Everything was a romantic moment for those two.

  Idle minutes let Regina feel how much the Long Island iced teas were hitting her. She wanted to get back to lie down.

  “Can we go, lovebirds?” she asked once the sun had completely disappeared.

  “Sure, Reg.” Sabrina threw an arm around her. Apparently she was beginning to feel the alcohol, too.

  After a few paces, Reggie let out a yell and hit the ground hard with her knees.

  “What happened?” Van asked as he dropped to her side.

  She rolled to her butt and held her ankle. A Kiawe thorn was stuck deep in her foot with good part of the branch exposed, answering Van’s question.

  “Aw, shit,” Reggie said softly as she looked at it. The small wound had a bead of blood at it.

  “Shit, Reg. I’ve had my share of those bastards. We shouldn’t be out here without shoes.” Van held her ankle as Sabrina sat behind her. “You want me to pull it out?” Reggie’s eyes remained fixed on the bleeding wound. “Reggie?”

  She held onto her ankle, but stared at the branch as if in a daze. “Hmmm,” was all she could reply.

  “You want me to pull it out for you?” he asked again. Her eyes fluttered. “I think she’s going to pass out,” he said calmly to Sabrina.

  “Over a thorn?” Troy said with an ‘I don’t believe it’ tone to his voice.

  “There’s two and they’re damn huge.” Van raised his voice and turned around glaring, scolding them for making light of the situation. “Reggie?” He held her chin in his hand.

  “Hmmm,” she moaned again, trying to open her eyes wide.

  “She drunk?” asked Troy with a laugh.

  “This isn’t funny, Troy.” Sabrina scolded her husband. “I’ve never seen her go loopy like this.”

  Van gave the branch a swift yank, pulling the thorns out of her foot. She let a scream out again. “Ouch, you bastard!” Reggie flopped backward into Sabrina.

  “Well, that’s more par for the course,” Troy said.

  “Reg?” Van picked her chin up.

  “Ouch,” is all she would reply with her eyes still closed.

  He looked at her heel; it had begun to bleed. He squeezed it a little wanting it to flow a little more freely to clean it out. That earned him a prompt slap on the arm. “Stop it! That hurts!” Tears had begun to fall down her cheeks, but her eyes were still closed.

  He put an arm around her back, one under her legs and picked her up. She wrapped her arm around his neck and buried her face into his chest instead of fighting him. He walked them back to the house.

  “She diabetic or anything?” he asked Sabrina.

  “No.”

  “You’ve never seen her pass out before?”

  “Stop talking about me like I’m not here,” Reggie mumbled.

  “Well, have you?”

  “Hmm?”

  “Has she?” he asked Sabrina again.

  “No, but wait…she doesn’t do the sight of blood well. That much I know for sure. The neighbor girl roller-skated by one day and fell. We went rushing out to make sure she was okay. Her knee was scraped up bad. Reggie threw up and about passed out. I forgot about that; it was over a year ago.”

  “All that fuss over blood?” Troy laughed again. That earned him a prompt smack in the arm by his wife. “Oh goody. Now we’re a matching set,” he said to Van. “Men and the women who abuse them: Story at six.”

  Sabrina glared at him and he became quiet.

  “You going to toss your cookies?” Van asked Reggie.

  “No cookies.” She buried her head deeper into his chest. “I feel like I’m gonna throw up.”

  Chapter 3

  REGGIE STORMED INTO VAN’S ROOM. It had been two weeks since he had been admitted. The sight of her made him smile, even though he could tell she was about to blow.

  “Cookie?” He lifted up a small bag of white Oreos that had been brought to him as an afternoon snack.

  “No, thank you. You’re outta here in half an hour. There’s an ambulance arriving shortly to take you to St. Cloud.”

  “You heard from the VA? Why didn’t they get a hold of me?”

  “Because I didn’t hear from the VA. You’re going on my insurance.”

  “We can’t do that, baby.”

  “Yes, we can and are. I spent the last four days making the arrangements. I’m not having you sit here another day in pain while they get their thumbs out of their asses!”

  “Shh, calm down.”

  “Like hell. Those bureaucratic assholes know exactly what they’re doing. You were their ‘property,’” she said, using finger quotes, “but now they don’t give a damn about you.”

  He knew when it was best to keep quiet and let her rant.

  “They could have had you out of here long ago only they don’t want to foot the bill. They are banking on the fact we’ll do exactly what I’m doing. I don’t care what the co-pay is, you’re going today.”

  “It’s not so bad.” He picked up the button that dispensed the pain meds into his IV and wiggled it in front of her. “Yesterday I said I didn’t want to get hooked on the morphine and asked if I could have one of my dammit-alls. They said no, so…ding.” He pretended to push the button.

  “See!”

  “See what?”

  “They’re not doing dick about it. ‘Here’s more pain meds, Mr. Kimball.’” She went over and sat on the bed. “They’re going to kill you, my love. You’re having the surgery and you’re having it now.”

  “This coming from a girl who faints when she gets a thorn in her foot.”

  “You afraid of the surgery?” she asked him, reaching for his hand.

  “No. They’ve been over the details enough. I’m okay with it. I was just h
oping the VA would pull through.”

  “You’re a flag-loving sap and I love you, but you’ve always given the military more credit than they deserve. They broke you, dammit, and they should fess up to it, but they aren’t so I’m stepping up to the plate.”

  “You’re so damn cute when you’re pissed. I especially love when it’s not at me.”

  “Well, no sex for two weeks will do that to a girl.”

  “Ah ha, the thick plotens.”

  “The thick plotens? You are high.”

  He laughed. “I did that on purpose.”

  She put her hands on his cheeks and looked into his eyes. “Maybe, but you do look stoned and I don’t like it. Enough is enough. I’m going to run home for a few things then I’ll meet you there.”

  “Kiss me goodbye first.” She leaned down and gave him a quick peck on the lips. “No. Kiss me right.”

  She gave him another quick kiss. He reached up and held her face in place. He tilted her head slightly and covered her mouth with his, using his tongue in a way that usually meant they were going to end up naked. She moaned softly and leaned into him, wanting more as well. After a few minutes she finally sat up. Her eyes opened up slowly and she smiled at him as her hand moved to his crotch. She chuckled.

  “That’s hardly the reaction a man wants when a woman places her hand there.”

  “After a kiss like that, there is no way you would not be aroused. You are high.”

  “Give me another chance after surgery.”

  “You ready for your trip, Mr. Kimball?” an orderly asked as he wheeled in a gurney.

  “You’re early,” Reggie said, grateful for the arrival of someone finally.

  “I’m late by a day, actually. Sorry about that, but there was an emergency that took precedence over a recurring back injury.”

  “Yesterday? I had him set to leave for St. Cloud later today.”

  “St. Cloud? No ma’am. He’s scheduled for surgery tomorrow morning in Fargo.”

  “Fargo? No. He’s not going to the VA hospital; he’s going to St. Cloud.”

  He picked up the chart. “Kimball, Donovan. Last four—”

  “No!” Reggie hollered. “Don’t start that bullshit.” She looked at Van with pleading in her eyes.

  He reached for her hand and pulled her toward him. “This was the plan, baby. They came through after all. I’d feel better without us having to foot the bill for this.”

  “It’s too late. I already made the plans.”

  “Un-make them. What’s the big deal? Switch your hotel to Fargo. Come on. This is a good thing.” She sighed heavily. “They’re good doctors, Reggie. Let the service pay for it.”

  She climbed onto the bed and buried her head in his neck. “Just wait a little while longer, Van. I’ve already taken care of this. I want to do it with my insurance.”

  “I hate to pull rank, baby. Let the man take me, okay? I don’t want to fight. Let’s get this over with.” He pulled her close and kissed the top of her head.

  After sliding off the bed, she stood out the way, helpless, as the orderly transferred Van to the gurney. Before he wheeled Van out of the room, Reggie called out for him to stop. She walked over, bent down and gave him one final kiss goodbye. “See you in a few hours.”

  The four friends arrived back at the house in less than five minutes. Van placed Reggie on the couch. “Get me a cold washcloth,” he said to Sabrina, “and one with soap for her foot, too.”

  When she returned, she went to place the washcloth on Reggie’s forehead, but Van took it from her to do it himself. Sabrina smiled at Troy. He shook his head and went to the refrigerator for another beer.

  “You want one?” he asked Van.

  “In a minute.” His attention stayed on Reggie. “You feeling better?”

  “I feel like an ass.”

  “But what a great ass it is,” he said with a grin.

  She opened her eyes just enough to shoot him a nasty look, then closed them again.

  He laughed. “You’re kinda cute when you’re pissed.”

  “Then you’re going to think I’m downright striking with my knee in your crotch.”

  “Ouch. Is that any way to treat your knight in shining armor?”

  “I didn’t ask to be carried.”

  “You didn’t seem to mind.”

  “I was almost comatose. Is that how you prefer your sex, too?”

  “I accept.”

  Sabrina laughed. “I’m going to go heat up the pie for dessert. You two duke it out.”

  “You are certifiable,” Reggie said under her breath after Bri walked away.

  “I’m also crazy about you.”

  “You don’t even know me.”

  “So let me get to know you.”

  “Trust me: Run for the hills, farm boy.”

  “Farm boy? Oh, I get it. I’m from Minnesota so I grew up on a farm.”

  “Did you?”

  “Yes, but that’s hardly a fair assumption.”

  “I’d say it was a perfect—” He cut off her protest with a kiss. She swallowed hard. “I have half a mind to slap you right now,” she said when their lips parted.

  “And the other half?” he asked as he slowly went in for another kiss. She closed her eyes, but their lips never met. Suddenly there was pressure on her heel.

  “Ouch!”

  “I need to get this cleaned out. I don’t want you to get an infection.”

  “Kiss my ass!” she said as she stood then hobbled away.

  “Where and when, doll-face? Where and when?”

  ~*~

  “You can’t stay away forever, Reg. I miss you,” Sabrina said into the phone that lazy Saturday as she pulled weeds in her garden.

  “We just went to lunch on Wednesday.”

  “But you haven’t been here in two weeks.”

  “Got that damn sidewalk ripped up yet?”

  “They hauled the last of it away yesterday. Troy said they weren’t starting on the brickwork till next week. Come over for a barbeque tonight. I’ll tell Troy to make an excuse to Van if that’s what’s keeping you away, but quit it already. Come over.”

  “You make sure he’s not there and I’ll be there.”

  “Done. See you at six.”

  “Want me to bring anything?”

  “Why do you even ask? I tell you no and you bring what you want anyway.”

  Reggie laughed. “Formality. See you at six.”

  Sabrina grinned, hit ‘end,’ and plopped on a lawn chair next to her husband. She tossed the phone to him. “Call Van and tell him six thirty. You can stall the fire.”

  “You are a devil, woman. You know that, right?”

  “And you love me.” He walked over and lay on top of her in the lawn chair again. It creaked as she screamed playfully. “You’re going to break it if you keep doing that.”

  “You ovulating yet?”

  “Tomorrow.”

  “I can’t wait.”

  “You’re supposed to wait and save your little guys up.”

  “I don’t want to wait. I’ll make more. I promise.” He untied her bikini top.

  “Go call Van,” she said, unsuccessfully trying to push his face away from her neck.

  “I already told him.”

  “You didn’t tell him she would be here, did you?”

  “Men don’t connive like that. I told him to show up for food and beer. He figures I left out the part where I’m going to make him work on something. He’s not sitting there obsessing over a pretty face. You know I love her but she’s a handful, baby. I hope you know what you’re doing.”

  “You know why she’s the way she is.”

  “I know. You know how I feel about that too. Seems to me, she has to be ready on her own time.”

  “She needs a good man to snap her out of it.”

  “I hope she doesn’t end up snapping my good man.”

  “He’s a big boy. He can take care of himself.”

  “How about you ta
ke care of your big boy?”

  “I don’t want to waste another month, Troy.”

  “And I don’t want to waste a perfectly good hard-on.”

  “When don’t you have a hard-on?”

  “Come on, baby.” He nuzzled into her neck.

  “All right, but you’re having sex with me tomorrow, too.”

  “If I must.”

  Chapter 4

  REGINA SHOWED UP at five forty-five with a dessert, a salad and a six-pack of Smirnoff Ice. She didn’t believe in showing up on Hawaiian time. Being on time was important; early was actually better. She smiled wide when she discovered there were no other cars in the driveway. Sabrina told her Van wouldn’t be there, but she didn’t ask if anyone else was invited. She wanted some alone time with her friends and hated that Van kept her away.

  “Hey, princess,” Troy said with a kiss.

  “Hey yourself, boyfriend.” She held his hug just a little longer than usual. “Can I help with anything?”

  “No thanks. I’m going to start the fire in a bit. You can go work on getting my wife drunk, though.”

  “Going to try to take advantage of her later?”

  “I already did that this afternoon,” he said with a wink.

  She laughed, pulled two bottles from the six-pack and went outside to join Sabrina. The giggles and the drinks went down far too easily. Reggie didn’t realize how lonely she had been the last couple weeks. She was stupid to let Van keep her from coming over.

  Going into the kitchen for another round about a half hour later, she stopped short of walking right into him. “Hey, doll-face.”

  “What are you doing here? I thought the sidewalk was done?”

  “Last time I checked, Troy and Bri don’t make everyone work when they show up, present company included.” He walked past her with a beer in each hand, sat down in one of the recliners and reached over to give Troy a beer. There was a football game on.

  Reggie went back to the refrigerator and seized the bottle of chilled root beer schnapps as well. She stopped by the TV. “Do you need me to check the fire, Troy?”

  “I got it, Reggie. Just go relax.”

  She huffed away and sat by Sabrina. “You’re a real pal,” she said, taking a swig of the schnapps.