Chapter 3: Oregon

Kate was very confused by what was happening. First she had been awaked by the warden and informed that her sentence was being commuted because of her terminal illness.

Oh there were some conditions, but in effect she was a free woman.

Then one of the guards helped her to dress and pack her meager belongings. A special nurse was brought in and introduced to her. The nurse explained she was to assist Kate on her voyage to the east coast.

Kate was confused, "What voyage and why East?"

"I'll miss my AA meetings."

The nurse was aware of her meetings and promised Kate that she still could attend them, only in a different location.

Kate was a little surprised that she was being put on a small private jet outfitted for medical transport. The jet was soon airborne and Kate was lulled to sleep by the constant noise of the engines.

The nurse checked Kate's vitals before relaxing in the comfortable plane. She had never flown on a private jet and was impressed.

About six hours later they were on the ground and being driven north to their final destination, a hunting lodge in Vermont. Kate sat in the back enjoying the view.

She remembered that Percy had always loved to take their few vacations together in the beautiful mountains of Vermont. The thoughts of Percy and those vacations brought back pictures of her children in her mind. It had been a long time since she had driven the two of them away. But yet she still missed them and regretted her actions.

She began to sob. She felt the nurse give her a shot, and then the peaceful darkness returned.

When the town car arrived at the camp, Kate was still asleep. The nurse walked into the cabin to make arrangements as she had been told. Judith had seen the car arrive and knew who was in it had arrived.

When the nurse walked in alone Kate became concerned, but the nurse explained her charge was only sleeping. It had been a long flight and the patient needed her rest. The nurse and her charge were put in one of the nicer cabins. It overlooked the lake and had a large porch facing the water with some very comfortable rockers.

The town car arrived in front of the cabin, and the driver carried the sleeping Kate into the cabin and put her in bed before unloading the car and driving way.

The nurse settled Kate into her bed and watched her sleep until she was certain that Kate was under no stress from the trip. At that point the nurse returned to the lodge and explained to Judith about Kate's condition, prognosis and special care.

Judith understood the prognosis and swore the nurse to secrecy. Not about Kate's condition but about her true identity.

Judith would reintroduce Kate to her family when the time was right.

But right now Judith just felt a little apprehensive about how "her" family would receive the news that Kate was back in their lives, no matter how little of her time on earth was left.