Chapter 18

I finally fell asleep after the nurse brought in some pills I was supposed to take. To my surprise, I wasn't bothered the rest of the night. I slept well without the usual dreams that always woke me. When I woke up the next morning, it was to the smiling face of Kat carrying a bag.

"I brought you a couple of egg sandwiches I made at home. I stopped and got you a large coffee, too."

"You still haven't told me what I owe you for the meal yesterday."

"You don't owe me a thing Jon. I was wondering though, when is Sally coming in to visit today?"

"Some time later this morning, I think. She has a final fitting for her prom dress this morning, and then Tiny will bring her by. What have you got up your sleeve, Kat? I don't mean to sound suspicious, but I know my soon to be daughter too well to think that was an innocent question."

"Well, Umm, I promised her I would show her around the hospital. By the way, Jon, who is Myrna? She sounded so nice when I talked to her last night."

She quickly put her hand over her mouth and exited the room before I could say anything in return. Oh God, I thought, she has been talking to Myrna and Sally together. I was still wondering when Sally had time to give her our number when Myrna and Sarah came into the room and sat down. Sarah wouldn't look at me, and as I looked at Myrna, she looked a little upset for some reason. I just munched on my egg sandwich and waited to see who would break the silence.

"Jon, I have to tell you something and I don't want you to take it the wrong way. I am moving to California to take a position as the director of Children Services for one of the hospitals out there. I will finally have my own practice with my own office and staff. I'm sorry I'm running out on you, but I really want to do this. I also found a Federal Express envelope addressed to me in care of you. It was in the stuff that the FBI brought back. Jon, how did you manage to get all my savings back from my ex? It was every cent that he stole. When I called him to thank him for returning it, they told me he didn't work there anymore and had moved to Texas or someplace."

"Sarah, don't worry about that. Let's just say he saw the error of his ways and decided to return it. Sarah, you are not running out on me or Sally. This is what you have been thinking about for years and now you have a chance to fulfill your dream. Hell, if it were me, I would jump at the chance. I want you to take the credit card and use it until you get yourself settled in out there. When you're done with it, just make sure you cut it up. I will call and have it cancelled in sixty days. That should give you plenty of time to get what you need. Sarah, you have been a great partner and a big asset for the kids you have worked with since I hired you. Now you can help more of them by having your own practice. I won't say I'm happy about losing my partner, but I will wish you the best because you deserve it. If there's ever anything you need, don't ever hesitate to call me."

She broke down and came running over to the bed, sobbing against my chest. I just patted her on the back and let her get it out of her system because I knew it had been building up for the last week or so. I had to admit I was sad about losing her as a partner, but I was also relieved that I had one less person to worry about with what was coming up. She finally rose up and grabbed several of the tissues and cleaned herself up a little before smiling at me.

"Jon, without your help, I never would have gotten a job like this. Working with you these few years made me realize there's more to what these kids go through than any adult can ever realize. I have loved you almost from the first time I saw you, but it took me almost a year to realize you were the ultimate professional and would never feel the same way I did. Myrna and I were up most of the night talking and she helped me realize so much more about you than what I knew. She told me about some of your background and it made me take a long hard look at myself and where I was going with my life. I have to be there by this weekend, so I will say good bye now. I probably won't see you again before I leave. Tiny is having my files and stuff delivered to Human Services, so all I have to do is pack and catch my plane. Jon, thanks for letting me use the card to get set up out there. I know even with what I have saved I didn't have near enough to buy the things I need. The hospital will help me find a house or an apartment if I need it, which I do, but I still have to furnish it. I promise I won't go overboard with the money and I will just buy the basics. If you ever come out there, you better stop and visit me or I will never speak to you again. I love you Jon Morgan, and always will."

With that, she kissed me and walked out of my life. I looked at Myrna and she had tears running down her cheeks too, but she smiled at me and left behind Sarah without saying a word. I just lay there on the bed with the partially eaten sandwich in my hand, wondering what was coming next. I laid the sandwich down and sipped the coffee, wondering if I had more feelings for Sarah than what I had thought. Any way I looked at it, I respected her and thought of her as my partner. I loved her as a person, but not in the way she obviously loved me. Damn, this was starting out to be a long day.

I lay sipping the coffee and thought about Kat. That brought a smile to my face until I remembered she had asked about Sally's visit today. I knew how Sally thought, but I had no idea what was in Kat's mind or even what she was thinking. The fact that she had talked last night to Myrna and Sally made me worried and wary about what they were planning together. I had to admit, I liked Kat a lot from talking to her, but I wondered why her sudden interest in me. Oh well, I thought, worrying about it wouldn't make it go away. I knew I would have to keep my eyes on all three of them.

I had just taken another sip of coffee when my cell rang. It startled me so bad I almost dropped the coffee. When I answered, it was Tiny on the other end.

"Jon, I am calling from the dress shop. Sally is getting her fitting but I have news I think you would like to hear. We had a little talk with our friend and he had some interesting things to tell us before he left to go back out west. Sally is not going to be bothered by her family anymore. It seems that his brother is married to Sally's mother's sister. Her aunt knew about the insurance policy and sent him to see if Sally would let them have it. He didn't know she couldn't inherit the money until she turned eighteen. He also told us the Runt paid all his bills while he was here, and that he had paid his attorney to file the motions. He told us that the Runt was mad as hell when Bill presented filed papers, showing the mother and he had signed their rights away to ever bother Sally again. There was no mention of the church by him at all, Jon. I don't think he knew about them and was just a tool they used to go after you. The Runt is some big wig in the church, at least that's what we been able to find out from a few people that know him. He and your grandfather tangled several times over your mom's and dad's property in West Virginia. I don't know what property they are talking about, but you might want to talk to Bill about it. As soon as Sally's done, I am bringing her straight to the hospital to see you. She said she had a date with a pretty redhead to talk about your future. That's the news and nothing but the news, my friend, and from where I stand, it is all good for a change."

"Yea, I agree, and it would take a load off my mind, except for the fact that Sally has a date with a redhead to talk about my future, as she put it."

"Well, if the redhead is that little nurse, then maybe you should think about it a little, my friend. She is beyond a doubt very pretty and also very smart. You could use someone like that in your life. Face it, Jon, you should think about settling down a little. Look at me, I have a good wife and a beautiful daughter. Which reminds me, what's with Aunt Myrna? She seemed a little out of sorts this morning when I picked up Sally. Has something happened that I don't know about?"