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“Yes. Toyourhouse. And maybe stay with me for one night. Doctor Kahlid said, and Malina agreed, that I should be walking with crutches after a day, and ready for physical therapy in two. All I need is a ride there and back until I’m cleared to drive. So,” I look at my people – my two closest friends, and the man I’m falling in love with – and give them all my most assertive face. “Team Francine would do well to remember that I am still a human being with bodily autonomy and can make decisions for her own care. Okay?”
“Okay,” Stefan says, contrite.
“Sorry Franny,” Rachel throws an arm over my shoulder. “I got carried away.”
“I’d really like it if you two,” I waggle a finger between Stefan and Rachel, “could get along. It doesn’t have to be right away, but I don’t want all this…whatever this weirdness is, okay?”
They both nod, and Rachel reaches across the table, offering a handshake to Stefan that he accepts with a nod.
“No more weirdness.” Stefan assures me. “I’m just worried, that’s all. I hate that I won’t be with you.”
“We’ll take care of her, Morrow,” Rachel says softly before turning to me, “while respecting her autonomy of course.”
“Thank you.” Stefan and I chorus in unison, breaking the tension that was settled over our table as Malina laughs and the rest of us join her.
“And I,” Malina, who has been silent this whole time, finally chimes in, speaking directly to Stefan, “will make sure that these two don’t kill each other.”
“We’ll be fine,” Rachel offers with a fond laugh, “as long as Francine doesn’t try to do too much, too soon.”
“And as long as Rachel realizes that I can make that choice for myself.”
After Stefan adjourns the unofficial meeting, wefinallyeat our donuts, and then he and I head back up to his house. It’s still early in the evening, and an unseasonably warm March day, so he hooks Stevie up to her run in the open backyard, and we sit on the paved patio down by the water.
“So…” he starts, reaching for my hand and lacing our fingers together, “Rachel is…”
“An acquired taste?”
“I was going to say intense, but yes, she’s also that.”
“She cares very deeply for her people,” I scoot closer to him on the outdoor loveseat, “and I’ve been her people for a while.”
“I gathered.” Stefan lifts my hand to his lips and softly kisses my knuckles. “I hope you know that you’remypeople too. That I want to be one ofyourpeople. But I also don’t want to ruffle feathers.”
“Rachel can handle having her toes ruffled and her feathers stepped on a bit, trust me.”
“I don’t want her to hate me.” He says this last bit quietly, almost reluctantly.
“She doesn’t hate you,” I assure him, leaning my head on his shoulder, “she’s a little territorial, that’s all. She’ll get to know you soon enough, and then she’ll be snarky but affectionate instead of just snarky.”
“Good to know.”
Surgery day arrives and Rachel, who was able to get time off from her day job, picks me up at Stefan’s the morning of the procedure and promises to keep him updated as much as she’s able to. Malina checks on me while I wait in pre-op, sitting with me for a bit, holding my hand and easing my anxiety as the clock ticks closer to surgery time.
“I love you, Franny,” Malina, squeezes my shoulder as I lay back and the bed starts to roll down the hall. “You’re in good hands.”
The surgeon comes to my bedside, greeting me with a kind smile as he reads through my chart.
“Which knee are we doing?” He asks. His resident was already here a few minutes ago asking the same question.
“Right.” I offer him a weary smile as he grabs a marker and scribbles his initials just below my right knee.
“Good. Who do you have here with you?”
“My friend Rachel. She’s not family, but you can speak with her after my surgery. I had a letter drawn up if you need it.”
“That won’t be necessary,” Dr. Khalid smiles. “I’ll chat with her when we’re done. I’ll probably be with my next patient once you wake up.”
“Sounds good.”
