Mended Fences: Will love and kindness be able to mend the fences broken by intolerance? (Mended Hearts Book 2) Read online

  After the woman left, Alex texted Kelly and told her it was safe to come in. Walking into Alex's office, she asked "So what did she want?" Laughing, Alex called Jack in to help her explain. When the man took a seat, Alex began. "Well, first she wouldn't listen when Jack told her that he couldn't give her your information. When I walked inside, he called me over and pretended to be really scared of me. I stood up tall and spoke to him as if he were a preschooler. After I repeated the company policy on personal information, I turned and started toward the office. I got maybe three feet and she was on my heels, demanding to speak with me. When I brushed her off, you will never guess what she said to me, babe." Alex trailed off, waiting to see what Kelly would say. When the woman said nothing and gave her an inquisitive look, Alex continued. "She told me that she was going to call the facility owner and get me fired! I don't know how or why, but your mother thinks that you are marrying a man named Alex Walker." Unable to hold back her laughter, Alex held her sides and let it out. With a smile, Jack finished the story while Alex continued to laugh uncontrollably. "Alex had me come over to her and informed me that you were marrying Mr. Walker and that I should schedule your mother an appointment with him. So I set her up to meet with him at two o'clock on Monday." The man finished, joining Alex in laughter. Saying nothing, Kelly glared at the pair and walked out of the office, slamming the door behind her.

  Once she was in her own office, Kelly shut and locked the door before taking her seat. Pulling the unopened letter from her purse, Kelly tore open the envelope and began to read what her mother had written.

  My dearest Kelly,

  I was informed of your impending nuptials by Mr. Jones, who heard it from one of his nieces in Oregon. I must say that I was surprised to learn that one of your sinful ex-lovers had tried to kill you. What surprised me even more was that you had repented your sinful ways and come to your senses. I am pleased to hear that you have found a man worth marrying. I would like to see you, my dear daughter, and get to know my future son-in-law. I am a widow now, and while your father no longer speaks to me, I know that he would love to hear from you, now that you have accepted that your lesbianism was just a phase. I look forward to seeing you again after so many years.

  Sincerely,

  Mother.

  Anger flared in Kelly as she read that words her mother had so rudely written. How dare she say those things to me! She thought to herself. Sliding the letter back into the envelope, she tossed it into her purse and huffed out a breath. Deciding that the best way to work out her anger was to work, Kelly grabbed her lab coat and left her office. Ignoring Jack and Alex, who were both staring at her as if she had grown another head, Kelly headed for the elevator.

  CHAPTER 4

  "Babe? Are you still mad at me?" Alex asked cautiously as the two drove to the school. "Can we talk about this at home, please?" Kelly snapped, staring out her window. With a feeling of unease settling in her chest, Alex nodded and drove the rest of the way in silence. After checking in at the office, each woman was escorted to the proper classroom. Taking a seat next to a police officer in the chairs lined up along the wall, Kelly pushed the events of the morning out of her mind. Waiting patiently as the other people were called inside, she dug through her purse to find her notes. Once she found them, she read over them until it was her turn.

  *****

  "Class, our next guest is Zane's mom. Let's give her a big hand. Zane would you please come up and introduce her?" Zane's teacher, Mrs. Pointer, announced. As Kelly stood in front of the whiteboard, Zane addressed his classmates. "This is my mom, Dr. Kelly Taylor. I asked her to come today, because none of the rest of you have a doctor for a parent." the boy stated as his classmates laughed. After thanking her son, Kelly began her speech. After explaining what it is that she does, she asked if anyone had any questions. Several hands flew into the air. Pointing to a young girl, Kelly listened as the child spoke. "Is it true that Zane saved you from being shot last year?" the girl asked with awe in her voice. Unsure of just what to say, Kelly looked at Zane, who had turned a scarlet red and was muttering under his breath as he glared daggers at the girl. Deciding to help her son out, Kelly addressed the little girl. "Yes, that is true. He pushed me and his little sister out of the way, and because of that, he was shot." Looking at Zane with amazement, the girl took her seat. The next child to ask was a short black boy who looked uneasy. "What did the bullet do to him?" he asked. Realizing that the topic would make a good teaching opportunity, Kelly asked Zane to join her.

  Taking a marker from the tray on the whiteboard, Kelly wrote several words on the board. Once she had made her list, she turned to face the class and pointing to the appropriate places on Zane's chest, described his injuries as plainly as she could. "The bullet went into his chest right here, under what is called the manubrium. The manubrium is the little bone at the top of your chest." Instructing the children on where to put their fingers to find their manubrium, Kelly continued. "The bullet then went through his left lung, popping it like a balloon. We call this a pneumothorax. That means the air inside the lung gets out and builds up inside your body. Because Zane is so skinny, when the bullet went in, it caused a kind of shockwave that made a bruise on his other lung and his heart. A bruised heart is called a myocardial contusion and a bruised lung is called a pulmonary contusion." Turning the boy around so his back was to his classmates, Kelly finished her speech. "After it went through his lung, the bullet got stuck in his third left rib." She explained, pointing to Zane's back. After she had finished explaining Zane's injury, she guided the class as a group in repeating the words she had explained. When she was finished, Mrs. Pointer thanked her as the class cheered. After saying her goodbyes, Kelly left the room. As she made her way into the hallway, she heard several children cheer as Zane showed the class his scars.

  *****

  Back in the car, Kelly spoke excitedly about her endeavor. "All of the kids seemed really interested. They were staring at me with their little mouths open and everything." she said with a laugh. Happy to see the woman smiling again, Alex patted her knee. "I'm glad you had fun, babe." She said, careful not to say anything that might sour her fiancée’s mood. Arriving back at Serenity Home, the two women went back to work so they could finish their workloads before they left for the weekend.

  For the rest of the evening, Alex was very careful with her topics of conversation. The pair talked about what to do over the weekend, they discussed some decorating ideas for Halloween, and they talked about the news. When Angie called and asked if Zane and Dej could stay the night, Alex quickly agreed, hoping that if they were alone, she and Kelly could discuss what had happened that morning. After Steve had picked the kids up, Alex decided it was time to take the bull by the horns and talk to Kelly.

  *****

  "Baby, could you come up here, please?" Alex called down to the living room. Sighing, Kelly set down her book and went upstairs. Might as well get this over with. She thought to herself as she reached their bedroom. Stepping inside the room, Kelly leaned against the wall with her arms crossed over her chest. Seeing the defensive stance, Alex stood and pointed to the bed. "Could you come sit down, please? I have some things I need to say." She said carefully. Dropping her arms with a huff, Kelly did as Alex requested. Saying nothing, she stared up at Alex with a look of betrayal on her face. Kneeling down on the floor at Kelly's feet, Alex began her apology. "Baby, I am so sorry for how I handled things this morning. I should have told her to leave and set her straight about who I was. I really can't explain why I did it the way I did, but I want you to know how sorry I am." Placing her hands lightly on Kelly's knees, she continued. "When I realized that your mother thought you were marrying a man, it was like a lightbulb went off in my head. I was so angry by the things she said to you when you came out, that I wanted her to feel some of that humiliation. Can you ever forgive me?" She finished, looking into Kelly's eyes pleadingly.

  Blowing out a breath and rolling her eyes, Kelly replied "You were righ
t." At Alex's confused gaze, she explained. "You were right about her reason for being here. I read the letter in my office and she says how she is so glad I finally found a man worth marrying. She said she can't wait to meet him. She also says that she is so happy that I have given up my 'lesbian phase' and that she is looking forward to seeing me." Kelly finished, pulling the letter from her pocket and giving it to Alex. After Alex read the letter to herself, she looked up at Kelly from her position on her knees. "So what do you want to do?" She asked. With a smile, Kelly replied "I think we should meet with her. I want to see the look on her face when she finds out that I am still a lesbian." Shaking her head, Alex stood and pulled Kelly in to kiss her. When the kiss broke, Alex asked playfully, “Does this mean I don’t have to sleep on the couch?” Kelly laughed and shook her head. Kissing Alex fiercely, Kelly pulled the woman down on top of her. “Not as long as you can make it up to me.” she whispered against her lover’s ear. Alex growled and gently pinned Kelly’s hands above her head. “Challenge accepted.”

  CHAPTER 5

  On Monday afternoon, Alex sat in her office with Kelly as they waited for Karen Willis to show up. Over the weekend, both women had discussed a game plan for the meeting. After nixing several ideas, including all that ended with physical violence and one that ended with the woman being arrested, the two had finally agreed on a course of action. After she had returned from lunch, Alex had informed Tina that a woman would be coming in expecting a meeting with Mr. Walker, and that she was to play along with it. When Karen arrived, Tina announced her arrival. "Mr. Walker, a Ms. Willis is here to see you." Quickly turning her chair so that her back was to the door, Alex waited until the woman had stepped inside. "Mr. Walker, it's a pleasure to finally meet you. I'm sorry that we have to meet under these circumstances, but I just felt that you had to be informed of the situation that took place this past Friday." Whipping her chair around to face the woman as she took a seat in the visitor's chair, Alex asked coldly. "And what situation is that, Ms. Willis?" Shocked to see Alex, Karen jumped out of her chair with a gasp and demanded "What is the meaning of this? Where is Alex Walker?" Standing from her unseen spot on the couch, Kelly demanded that her mother sit down. Looking at her daughter with relief, Karen said to the woman "Oh, Kelly. What is going on here? Where is your fiancé? I am supposed to meet with him to discuss this wretched woman's behavior." Pointing to the visitor's chair and glaring at her mother with contempt, Kelly said through gritted teeth "Sit. Down." Seeing the look on her daughter's face, Karen did as she was told.

  "Now, Ms. Willis, I don't believe we have been properly introduced. My name is Alexis Walker and I own this facility. The only Mr. Alex Walker associated with this place is my father and he has been dead for ten years." Alex said by way of an introduction. Easing her hip on the edge of Alex's desk, Kelly addressed her mother before the woman could say anything. "I don't know how Mr. Jones came to think that I was marrying a man, mother, but I can assure you that I am not. I am marrying this woman, whether you like it or not." When Karen started to interrupt, Kelly held up her hand to silence the woman. "No. You don't get to speak. You said enough the day I left for college and now it's my turn." Receiving a tentative nod, Kelly continued.

  “You have completely shunned me for half of my life. I sent you an invitation when I graduated college. I called you when I graduated medical school. Neither you nor daddy showed up to either one. I was completely cut out of your lives all because you don’t agree with my lifestyle. Am I right so far?” she asked her mother. When the woman nodded, Kelly stood and crossed her arms over her chest. “Why is that, mother? Why in the world would you choose to push me out of your lives for loving women, when you embraced Kristen and did everything you could to make her life easy? That woman cost you and daddy so much time and money, yet I did everything myself! I put myself through school. I put myself through medical school. I never asked you to co-sign a loan or pay for my tuition. I have never asked for anything from the two of you, except for love and attention.” When she finished, Kelly went to take her spot on the corner of Alex’s desk, but instead was pulled into her lap. When Karen sneered, Alex warned. “Do not say a word. Until my fiancée says it’s your turn, you sit there and listen.” Smiling at Alex, Kelly leaned down and placed a soft kiss on her lips.

  Surging out of her chair, Karen stated “I will not sit here and watch your vile proclivities.” Standing up and leaning over her desk, Alex growled at the woman. “Then close your fucking eyes. You may get your way back home, but here you are nothing more than a stuck up tourist.” Shocked at Alex’s audacity, Karen took a step back, falling back into the chair. Afraid that her fiancée may lose her temper, Kelly cut in. “Mother, just answer me this: Why did knowing who I choose to sleep with make you stop loving me?” Blowing out a breath, Karen crossed her legs and sat up straight.

  “Because it’s unnatural, Kelly Shane. Two women cannot create life. Your father and I wanted grandchildren and after Kristen’s shenanigans as a teenager, she can no longer have them. That left you as our only chance to be grandparents. When you told us about your preference, you shot our dreams all to hell. How could we ever forgive you for that? How could you expect us to explain to our friends that our daughter was a lesbian? Did you even think about how your choice would affect us?” the woman finished, sitting back in the chair. “You?” Kelly demanded, jumping to her feet and slapping her hand on the desk. “How in the hell does my choice, as you put it, affect you? Lesbians have children all the time! The fact that I have chosen to love women instead of men doesn’t affect my ability to have children! Being a lesbian does not make me unnatural. I do everything the same way a straight woman would do. I cook, I clean, I shower, I work, I take care of my kids, and I live in a very nice home. The only thing I do differently than you, is that when I go to bed at night, I do so with a woman instead of a man! What exactly is it you think I do, mother? Just how different do you think my lifestyle really is?” Glaring at her mother, Kelly waited for a response.

  “How can you expect me to believe that your life is the same as mine?” the woman retorted. After a moment of silence spent glaring at each other, Karen’s features softened. “Did you say you care for your children? You mean that you actually have children?” she asked softly. Momentarily confused, Kelly realized her error. Before she could correct it, Alex spoke up. “Yes ma’am, she does. She had two beautiful children, a boy and a girl, and they are wonderful kids. But they are not just hers. They are our children.” She said, beaming with pride at the woman she loved. Smiling to herself when she noticed the look on Karen’s face, Alex leaned over and whispered to Kelly, “I have an idea. Go along with it.” When Kelly nodded, Alex gave Karen an ultimatum. “I’ll tell you what, Ms. Willis. If you would like to meet your grandchildren, you will have to agree to a few conditions.” When the woman gave a hesitant nod, Alex continued. “First, you are not, for any reason, to bad mouth your daughter in front of them. Second, you will meet them at our home, and if at any time either of us ask you to leave, you will do so. Last, but certainly not least, if you attempt in any way to cause trouble for our family, I will have you arrested for assault.” Watching the woman carefully, Alex smiled when she saw Karen’s confusion. “I am assuming by the look on your face, you don’t understand my threat. Because of the field of work we are in, safety is our number one concern here at Serenity Home. Last year, after Kelly’s ex waltzed into my building and threatened her, I had more surveillance cameras installed. Every single inch of my lobby is recorded. When you grabbed my arm last week, it was caught on camera and because it was not done as a gesture of affection, I can and will have you charged for assaulting me.” When she saw the realization dawn in the woman’s eyes, she extended her hand. “Do we have a deal, Ms. Willis?”

  CHAPTER 6

  “Here we go, babe. Tonight will either end with you and your mother getting along, or it will end with me having her arrested.” Alex said as the women pulled into their driveway. Wai
ting until Karen had parked in front of the house, Alex called Angie and asked her to have Steve bring the kids home. Before they had headed home, Alex had called Angie and the pair had explained the events of the day over the speaker phone. Before they had ended the call, Steve had agreed to help them convince Karen that Kelly was great mom. Stepping out of the car, Alex went around to hold the door for Kelly, and together they walked over to Karen’s car. “The kids will be home in a few minutes. Would you like a tour of our home before they arrive?” Alex asked. “That would be nice, thank you.” the woman replied, her tone belaying her hesitation. After showing Karen around the house, the three women made their way back to the living room to wait for the kids.

  "Mom! We're home!" Dej yelled from the porch. Smiling, Kelly went to let them inside. "Hi mom. Guess what uncle Steve let me do!" the girl shrieked as she hugged Kelly's legs. "What, Princess?" the woman asked, picking the child up and tucking her onto her hip. "He let me drive!" Looking from the child to Steve, Kelly said with disbelief "Uncle Steve had better have a good explanation as to why or Mommy is going to hurt him." Blushing, Steve walked into the living room and sat next to Alex. "You are going to save my life, right?" the man whispered in her ear. With a snort, Alex nodded "Yeah, I got your back." she whispered back. Standing cautiously, Steve clapped his hands together and explained his actions. "Well, um, Zane and I were riding on the four wheeler and Dej wanted a ride too. So I put Anya's helmet on her and let her sit on my lap and steer the quad." he finished quickly. Setting her daughter down, Kelly scooted the girl upstairs to change. Once the child was out of the room, Kelly turned on Steve. "You let a child of her size steer a four wheeler? That's like letting a two year old fly an airplane!" the woman said, her voice seething with anger. Walking menacingly toward the man, Kelly backed him up against the wall. "If you ever pull a stupid stunt like that again, I'm going to make sure you pee sitting down for the rest of your life!" Nodding with fear in his eyes, Steve ran out the door.