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Over the next days the kiss ran through Kali’s mind again and again. It didn’t erase the past. It couldn’t. But Derek was right; it spoke of a possible future. It proved not everything they’d shared had vanished.
“Kali.” Allison leaned back in her seat. “I’ve got to tell you, I was doubtful. But I think this is going to work.”
Kali let her breath out slowly. She’d walked into Westwood this morning hopeful yet realistic. Now hope soared. “You think it will work?”
“An assessment is just that, obviously. It’s not being on the floor. We’d need you partnered for the first few weeks, someone shadowing you to ensure you can do the job safely and efficiently. I’d also need to get clearance on the cost of the equipment.”
“Oh,” Kali folded her hands, “will that be difficult?”
“No.” Allison grinned. “Not at all. The worst that I can see happening is it takes longer than we’d like. The red tape, you know. But approval shouldn’t be an issue.”
“Okay.”
“So,” Allison leaned forward, “are you ready to come back?”
To Westwood. Was she ready to come back to Westwood? She was terrified. Uncertain. But she was ready. Incredibly ready. “Yes.” Kali’s smile spread until it overtook her face. “Definitely.”
“Great.” Allison walked around the desk and put a hand on Kali’s shoulder. “We’ve missed you. Your patients have missed you. And I have to say,” Allison perched on the edge of her desk, facing Kali, “I’m incredibly impressed at your fortitude. Not everyone would fight the way you have. Some people would let a circumstance like this break them. I’ve seen it dozens of times. The road ahead of you is going to be hard. It’ll be frustrating. Things that used to come easily will be more difficult now. But I also believe in time you’ll hardly notice.”
A tingling made its way through Kali. Allison wasn’t wrong. It would be difficult. Even in the assessment, Kali could feel the tension as it took longer to check her pretend patient’s vitals, scan for bedsores, and maneuver around the room so that she didn’t bump into anything. The worst, perhaps, was accessing medicine. She could stare straight in front of her, missing half of it. It seemed like nothing, the effort to shift your head in order to see the full picture. But it wasn’t nothing.
“Plan to come back two Mondays from now. I’d rather you start with your own equipment. That should give enough time for clearance, purchasing, and arranging a shadow. We’ll start you on half days.”
Allison hopped off of the desk. “A new phase in your life. I’m excited for you.” She stuck out her hand and Kali stood to meet the vigorous shake.
A new phase.
Kali walked out of the room half in a daze. It’d be frustrating at times. Difficult often. But worth it. Kali smiled. Those words spoke to so much more than her career.
Frustrating. Difficult. Worth it.
Kali pushed out of Westwood’s doors and into the parking lot. She crossed the lot and stood at the bus stop. A new phase. A new life. A new story.
She didn’t have to be afraid anymore.
She’d been a single mom and powered through; her son was incredible. She’d had a tumour, she’d lost a significant amount of her vision, but she hadn’t broken ... not irrevocably, anyway. She’d lived without love. She didn’t want to, not anymore.
Kali waited for the bus door to open. The driver smiled at her, a rare occurrence, and she smiled back as she showed her card then found a seat. She’d let fear overtake her, cripple her, close her off. But she didn’t have to, not anymore.
The memory of Derek’s kiss tingled on her lips. It’d been incredible. Beautiful. It’d taught her something—she’d forgiven him. Maybe not completely, but enough. More than enough. He was Theo’s father. He was here. Whether she wanted it or not, he’d always be in their lives in some way or another. She’d never keep Theo from him again. Kali touched her lips. She wanted him in their lives.
He was a good man, despite his poor choices, and it wasn’t fair to keep him waiting in this limbo any longer. He deserved her answer and deserved it now. She loved him, and it was cruel, keeping someone you loved in this kind of limbo.
Kali stepped off the bus and walked the three blocks to Derek’s apartment. She inhaled then let the breath out slowly. He was her husband. He could be again. They’d made vows, and she’d meant them, every word.
She stood in front of his building. She needed to be sure, certain, before she knocked on his door. She took another breath. They could live a good life. A long life. Forgiveness may have to be given again and again. Trust would have to build up slowly. But it was possible. More than possible. She knew that, felt it in her bones. She and Derek could have a future. They could. She knocked three times. Waited.