A Very Rough Draft of Chapter Two of Wildcat Fall; suggestions are appreciated

Chapter Two
 
She saw a sparkling ocean beyond the treeline. Walking carefully down to the beach, she marveled at how soft the sand was as she dipped a toe into the water. Rows of shells washed up from the incoming tide surrounded her, and she could see tiny crabs climbing in and out of the colorful shells.
 
 
Gina called Richard right after she talked to Jenn. He picked up immediately. “Hey, Gina! How’s your vacation coming along?”
 
“It’s been great relaxing in the luxury of Manhattan's Upper East Side, but I need to head into Philly.”
 
“Right. Phil and I were just discussing the good news about our wonder girl. Would you like me to arrange transportation?”
 
Gina smiled. “Sure. I was hoping you could do that.”
 
“Of course, I can. That’s my job. I’m guessing you want to head out in the morning.”
 
“I do.”
 
“How about ten o’clock? You’ll miss all the congestion of rush hour traffic. I’ll have the driver call when he’s out front.”
 
“Thank you.”
 
“Well, tell everyone, especially Teri, we’re sending our best wishes. We found the best gift for her.”
 
“Best gift, huh? What’d you get her?”
 
“I searched out five of Jimi Hendrix’s live albums on vinyl. All in mint condition.”
 
“You know she’s going to love that, guaranteed to brighten her day.”
 
“Good. The driver will have the package in the car when they pick you up.”
 
“Thanks, Richard.”
 
“Just make sure you tell everyone that we send our love.”
 
“I will. What have you and Phil been doing?”
 
“We’ve been spending Wildcat money. Dinners, shows, clothing, and a bit of travel, too. All the pampering we can give ourselves after a long, hot summer.”
 
“Well, you deserve it after steering this craziness.”
 
“Speaking of that. You know you’re booked for Thanksgiving as the backup band for Bee and Tee on SNL, right?”
 
“How cool is that going to be? Teri’s bright idea to have the two biggest pop stars in the universe doing a show together has become the most talked about thing on the internet.”
 
“We’ll have to see just how exciting it will be. Zoe will either be bursting with a baby or recently postpartum. And of course, Teri will still be dealing with post-operative recovery efforts of her surgery, too.”
 
Gina laughed. “Yeah. The Wildcats have conquered bigger challenges in the past. Imagine Zoe giving birth at Thirty Rock!”
 
“No, Gina. I’m trying not to, but we will have a team standing by. And, of course, you guys are handling the Christmas show, too. That’s a week of Wildcat skits with the cast and playing two songs live.”
 
“Richard, that should be so much fun. Everyone will be excited. I can’t wait to hear what the band wants to play.”
 
“Well, speaking of surprises, when was the last time you talked to your dad? He’s got something to share, and I won’t spoil the surprise.”
 
Gina nodded. “Okay, I’ll call him at work tomorrow when I’m in the limo. If I call him at home tonight, Mom will get on, and he’ll sneak off.”
 
“Well, when I hang up, I’ll arrange your transportation. Have fun!”
 
Gina started thinking about a present for Grace. She wanted to buy her something she knew was from her heart. She flopped down on the couch in Grace’s office and stared out the picture window. It had the best view of Central Park.
 
As she was sitting there, Gina got a great idea. She called Grace’s favorite gallery owner. In a few minutes, she outlined what she had in mind and was pleased to hear that the woman was just as excited as she was. It would be a great surprise.
 
 
Without hesitating, she walked into the warm ocean, smiling at how wonderful the water felt. Holding her breath, she lowered her head under the waves and began swimming.
 
 
Robyn and Julia took her back to see Teri, and she could spend the rest of the evening in her private room in recovery. Around ten o’clock, she kissed her sleeping girlfriend and took an Uber back to their apartment. 
 
After showering, she curled up in bed. She fell asleep, knowing that she’d be over at the hospital when they opened for visitors at ten.
 
 
The next morning, Gina saw the large two-toned SUV sitting outside Fifth Avenue and was pleased to see a cute young woman holding the door for her.
 
“Gina DeNardo?”
 
Gina looked over the pretty thing in her long-sleeved tee and yoga pants. She almost laughed out loud because she was wearing the same comfy clothes. “That’s me.”
 
“I’m Madison and ready to drive you down to Philly. Before we start, do you need anything? I’ve got snacks and water in the back. We even have a chiller, too.”
 
Gina had grabbed a bagel after her run this morning and wanted something sweet. “Uh, any ice cream?”
 
“Frozen Snickers, Milky Ways, and Heath Bars. Just watch biting down too hard. I’m not a dentist.”
 
“Great. And Madison, where are you when you’re not driving this machine?”
 
“School. Studying law in Philly at Kline.”
 
“You drove up this morning?”
 
“Sure. The service finds it easier to come and get you rather than farm out our services. Quality goes a long way.”
 
Gina smiled. “You sound like you own the business.”
 
“Well, it’s a family business with a few partners. The Wildcats are important clients. And you’re my favorite.”
 
Gina blushed at her statement. Her gaydar was pinging. She looked around and was impressed. The back of the SUV was a beautifully upholstered office with two recliners. “This is pretty nice back here. What is it?”
 
“It’s a Maybach. Mercedes makes them. This one is the top of the line and is all-electric.”
 
“Very cool. Okay. I’ll let you concentrate on driving us out of this traffic. I have to call my dad.”
 
“Put in a good word for me. I’m looking for an internship. His law firm is the best.”
 
“Sure. But then you’ll owe me.”
 
Gina watched the cute young woman stare into the rear-view mirror. Madison grinned. “Uh, you know you’ve got a reputation.”
 
Gina laughed. “Wait, do you keep a file on everyone you drive?”
 
“Nope. Just the beautiful ones.”
 
Gina inhaled and shook her head. She thought, ‘I love my life, I love my life.’ Picking up her phone, she called her dad.
 
“Dinardo, Hopkins, and Ryan. How can I help you?”
 
“Hi, Judy. It’s Gina. Could you have my dad call me when he’s not busy?”
 
“Gina, he just got off the phone. Let me connect you.”
 
A minute later, she heard his warm voice. “Hey, baby. How’s my favorite rock star?”
 
“Life is good. I’m heading down to the hospital to see Teri. What’s up? Richard told me to call.”
 
“Yep. Richard wanted me to share the news about William Wiggins wiring us a check. It’s for royalties from all the streaming services.”
 
“Oh, wow. I didn’t even know that existed.”
 
“Uh-huh. They pay the record company every time your songs get played. And all the services have been playing your hits all summer. Every time someone chooses a Wildcat song, you get paid. And all those pennies add up. After Warner takes their cut and Richard gets his cut, you guys split a hundred thousand. That’s twenty grand per Cat.”
 
Gina thought about the painting she’d ordered from the gallery and wondered if that money would cover it. “That’s unexpected. I was going to call you and draw some bucks out. I’m having Grace’s favorite artist paint the view from her apartment to hang in her office. But now, I don’t know if I’ll need it.”
 
She heard her dad chuckle. “My little girl is such a softy.”
 
“Love does that to you.” Gina looked up and realized that her driver could hear every word.
 
“Well, baby. I’m going to get back to work. Not all of us get six-month vacations. Richard told me that you’re going international in the Spring. Your mom and I will fly over to hear you if you play Italy.”
 
“Of course, we’ll book Rome just for you guys. Love ya.”
 
After she hung up, she closed her eyes and thought about how lucky she was to have a family who embraced her. Opening her eyes, she saw they were just going over the Ben Franklin into Philly. Gina looked up at Madison and smiled. “Hey.”
 
“Hey, back. I’ve been fantasizing about the favor I will owe you.”
 
Gina grinned. “You do know I have a true love.”
 
Madison hummed. “Oh, I know. And that’s what’s going to make it so special.”
 
 
She started swimming through the water and looked down at the fish around her. She swam into a large school, marveling at all the different reflective colors on their scales. Looking ahead, she realized they were headed out towards large reefs of colorful coral with hundreds of various species of fish, crabs, snails, and things she’d never seen before. Her eyes opened at the rainbow of beautiful colors against the sandy bottom below.
 
 
Lisa and Smith walked down the ramp toward the waiting plane. Lisa chuckled at the woman leading them to their seats as they entered the doorway. The woman couldn’t seem to take her eyes off Smith. Lisa knew he had that star charisma without trying after being in a world-famous band and several big movies. She liked that he didn’t notice the fuss surrounding him as they quietly sat in the corner of first class.
 
After sitting, the same flight attendant stood in the aisle, blocking the view of their seats so the rest of the passengers wouldn’t notice them. As much as she enjoyed the Wildcats' success, the constant staring had grown tiresome. She knew she’d never complain, but having the most beautiful man on the planet for a boyfriend made her invisible. She hadn’t quite figured that all out in her head. She made a note asking Grace Goldman for advice on dealing with passive-aggressive jealousy.
 
Smith leaned over and buried his nose in his iPad on his tray table. He was working on lyrics for new EBR music.
 
Lisa looked over and read some of the words. “Hmm. Storm clouds, lightning, heavy rain. Sure sounds like a recycled Eaten song.”
 
He turned his head slowly, smiling into her face. “Uh-huh. Except this one might have the sun coming out. You know, maybe throw some love into the mix.”
 
Lisa squeezed his thigh and inched up his leg using her fingers. She whispered in her sexiest voice, “The sun came out and dried up all the rain. And the itsy-bitsy spider went up the spout again.”
 
Smith inhaled as her fingers caressed him. He pretended to shake his head. “Why did I have to fall in love with such a wise-ass. It must run in the Nelson family. But how come your mom’s not like that?”
 
Lisa made a fist and smacked him hard on the bicep before she went back to stimulating him. “That reminds me. When things settle down, I want to hire a private detective to track down my sperm donor's biological parent. Wouldn’t it be ironic if he’s a musician?”
 
“Or a wise ass.”
 
Lisa’s hand grabbed down hard. “Maybe you don’t need this boy for a while.”
 
 
It amazed her as she swam along the coral, looking at the creatures inhabiting their colorful homes. It was all so beautiful and welcoming, even though it was alien to what she knew.
 
 
Robyn brought Jenn back to Recovery and Teri’s room at ten o'clock. She helped her stow her backpack and coat.
 
Jenn stared over at Teri. She looked so small and pale, lying there on the bed surrounded by big machines, all making different noises.
 
Robyn squeezed her arm. “Now it’s time to wake her up. Just sit tight and watch the action.”
 
Jenn watched as Robyn adjusted the controls, sending fluids into her body through a port on her hand. “I’m giving her a wake-up call, and we’re flushing any sedatives still lingering from the operating room. Give her a minute or two to figure it all out.
 
 
As she swam along, she noticed the light from above was getting brighter. She headed towards the sun and the surface. As her head broke through, she could hear sounds and opened her eyes.
 
 
The phone was beeping, and someone was running a vacuum. Lying in her old bed at her mom's house, Teri knew she should answer her phone. She lifted her head to look for it
 
But when she moved, everything spun around violently, and she discovered that her arms and legs were tied down. She attempted to scream, but the pain in her throat was terrible.
 
Having flashbacks of being tied down with duct tape and zip ties when Amos kidnapped her, she panicked.
 
 
Suddenly, a face loomed so close that she couldn’t focus. “Welcome back, Teri Nelson. I’m Robyn, your nurse on the recovery floor. You’ve just come out of surgery, so please don’t worry about your restraints. I’m removing them right now.”
 
As Robyn released the straps, she called out. “Honey, the operation’s over, and everything went well.” She continued speaking as she busied herself with the bed. “Your throat and tongue ache where they inserted a breathing tube during surgery. It’s been replaced with a cannula. I will get you some crushed ice and bring you a soda.”
 
Teri couldn’t feel anything below her waist. She heard a machine between her legs. She lifted her blanket to look.
 
“That’s the sound of an icing machine that keeps your surgical area cold. It’s important to keep the swelling down. Right now, you’re still numbed from your operation and packed with gauze to maintain the shape of your new vagina. There’s a drain inside to remove all the fluid and a catheter in your urethra. Those bags are under your bed. They come out this afternoon before you get up and walk around.”
 
Teri listened, but her mind drifted. Everything had evolved. She realized she’d been given a gift as her body and mind aligned.
 
She took a deep breath and felt the tears roll down her cheeks. The surgery was over. Instead of fearing falling into a bottomless chasm, she prepared to leap hurdles.
 
Robyn looked into her eyes. “And you have your first visitor.”
 
Teri looked up and saw Jenn standing right next to her nurse.
 
Robyn saw her tears and handed Teri a tissue. “Our job is to take care of you during your recovery.”
 
As Robyn showed Jenn the various machines surrounding her, Teri smiled. The surgery was over; the new adventure had begun.
 
“Teri, surgery took six hours. The general anesthesia takes a few days to leave your body.”
 
Teri watched as she pointed everything out but was having trouble concentrating. Her eyes kept closing. She felt a squeeze on her arm. She looked up and saw Jenn looking down at her. They were both crying tears of joy as they kissed.
 
A few minutes later, Robyn held two large styrofoam cups. “Here you go. Jenn’s going to feed you ice very slowly. Now take your time because choking is a real no-no.”
 
As she felt the bed lifting slowly, she heard a motor vibrating under her. When her head and trunk were raised, Teri saw she had a picture window, and the walls were painted a faded green. Her nurse, Robyn, was wearing dark blue scrubs.
 
Jenn grinned as she dipped a long-handled plastic spoon into the cup and brought out ice shards. She waited until Teri opened her mouth and fed them to her.
 
‘I’m a baby bird,’ she thought as the first shards melted on her tongue and trickled down her throat. Teri savored the ice and used her tongue to run it around her mouth before letting it slide down her bruised throat. Jenn filled one spoon after another until the cup was empty.
 
Robyn checked her legs. “You’re wearing elastic support stockings to prevent blood clots from forming. Now, are you ready to try a soda?”
 
Teri croaked out, “Please.”
 
Robyn placed a Coke and another cup of ice in front of her. There was a bendable straw attached to the cup.
 
Robyn opened the can and poured it over the ice. “You’re only going to get a little bit at a time. I’m going to let you hold the cup.”
 
When the soda was gone, Robyn whispered, “Remember that a catheter is in your urethra. You can’t feel it, but relax and let it go. Don’t try to squeeze your muscles and hold back. We want you to make sure everything works.”
 
Teri nodded as she felt the bed being lowered. She saw Robyn adjust the IV drips on a touchpad near the bags. “Time to close your eyes, honey. When you wake up, I’ll introduce you to Julia, the other nurse in this wing.”
 
As she closed her eyes, Teri took a deep breath and smiled.    

A Very Rough Draft of Chapter Three of Wildcat Fall; suggestions are appreciated

Chapter Three
 
When Teri awoke, the first thing she saw was Jenn staring at her. “Hey!” Her voice sounded hoarse. She remembered Robyn telling her that she’d had a tube in her throat during her surgery. Surgery. She still couldn’t feel below her waist, but assumed that was all related to yesterday’s operation. She was still pretty out of it. She had slept last night, but every two hours, somebody turned all the lights on and checked her vitals. So when Jenn appeared, it was great.
 
Jenn moved over to her side and kissed her. “Hey, baby. God, I missed you.”
 
Jenn was kissing her as Teri turned to Robyn. “Hey, could I have dreamed during my operation?”
 
Robyn shrugged. “It’s possible. Some anesthetics can give you vivid dreams. Ask your doctor when you see her.”
 
Teri was wide-eyed. “Well, I just had the coolest dream. I was on a hilltop, and then swimming in the ocean. Everything was in color, and amazing.”
 
Robyn shook her head and smiled. “Well, I’m happy they were good dreams.”

A few minutes later, Robyn held two large Styrofoam cups. “Here you go. Jenn’s going to feed you ice very slowly. Now take your time because choking is a real no-no.”

As she felt the bed lifting slowly, she heard a motor vibrating under her. When her head and trunk were raised, Teri saw she had a picture window, and the walls were painted a faded green. Her nurse, Robyn, was wearing dark blue scrubs.

Jenn grinned as she dipped a long-handled plastic spoon into the cup and brought out ice shards. She waited until Teri opened her mouth and fed them to her.

‘I’m a baby bird,’ she thought as the first shards melted on her tongue and trickled down her throat. Teri savored the ice and used her tongue to run it around her mouth before letting it slide down her bruised throat. Jenn filled the cup one spoonful at a time until it was empty.

Robyn checked her legs. “You’re wearing elastic support stockings to prevent blood clots from forming. Now, are you ready to try a soda?”

Teri croaked out, “Please.”

Robyn placed a Coke and another cup of ice in front of her. A bendable straw was attached to the cup.

Robyn opened the can and poured it over the ice. “You’re only going to get a little bit at a time. I’m going to let you hold the cup.”

When the soda was gone, Robyn whispered, “Remember that a catheter is in your urethra. You can’t feel it, but relax and let it go. Don’t try to squeeze your muscles and hold back. We want you to make sure everything works.”

She started opening the closet and turned to Jenn, “Would you like to help Teri wash her face and brush her teeth?”
 
Teri moaned. “Oh, please. I feel like such a grub. And the taste in my mouth is awful.”
 
After Robyn got her a warm washcloth and a towel, she brought out a disposable cup, a toothbrush, and toothpaste. Teri enjoyed cleaning her mouth.
 
She shook her head as she spat out the last of the paste back into a cup. “Do I get mouthwash, too?”
 
“Of course, Teri. This is a five-star hotel. Just ask and you shall receive.” Robyn reached into the bathroom cabinet and got out a sample-sized bottle.

Teri was finally able to take a deep breath, sitting in bed, and feeling the ice machine between her legs. As she looked across at Jenn, there was a knock on the door. Another smiling nurse was standing there, washing his hands with an antibacterial scrub before he entered. “Hi, Teri Nelson. I’m Hank. I’m a pulmonologist here to check your lungs and breathing.”
 
Jenn looked at him. “Do I need to leave?”
 
“Nope.” He beamed a big smile. “I’ll only be a few minutes.” Hank admired the two women, smiling at them both.
 
Jenn was fascinated to watch as Teri blew into a tube and recorded the information. He used a stethoscope to listen to her lungs and nodded in response. “You’re in great shape. You’ll be going home in no time at all! My assistant will return this evening and demonstrate the exercises I want you to do to build up your lung capacity. Knowing that you sing and play for a living, I want to make sure we send you home in perfect shape.”
 
As he was working, no one noticed Tiffany walk through the door. She immediately came over and gave Teri a warm kiss. “Surprise, Little. This is wonderful. Seeing you stuck in bed, I can keep on kissing and you can’t run away!”
 
She laughed and turned to Robyn and the doctor. “Can I climb up into bed with my girlfriend? I want to get under the covers with her. Is it too soon to have hot monkey sex?”
 
Robyn looked frantic, not realizing Tiffany was putting on an act. “Oh, please don’t. She’s still hooked up to too many tubes, and we don’t want anything to go wrong.”
 
Jenn covered her mouth and laughed. She knew Tiff so well and was enjoying her outlandish, impulsive behavior. The woman could make anyone laugh.  
 
The man’s jaw dropped. The beautiful, tall, leggy blonde carrying on with the exotic-looking brunette was an eyeful. He slowly exited the room, realizing that Jenn and Tiffany were laughing while everyone was talking. He made a mental note to return to this room soon and check on the patient.
 
As everything was settling down, Jenn’s phone buzzed. She glanced at it and asked Robyn if Teri’s mom could come in too.
 
“No problem. I’ll get them. The whole floor is quiet; we can even steal chairs from the other room.
 
Before too long, Teri and Amy hugged it while Tiffany talked to Conor. A professional surgical nurse, Amy was interested in what the doctor said.
 
Robyn was giving everyone the lowdown. “Well, she came in last night at around eleven. Teri was still pretty out of it. She said that she was very pleased with the whole operation and felt that, because Teri was so young and intersex, it made it much easier to complete the transformation. She also said they had to do less cutting and suturing so healing would go faster. She promised to come back again today and help pull out the catheter and check on the dressings.”
 
Amy was smiling at Conor. “I’m happy to hear that. Complications are a bitch.” She paused and shook her head. “Excuse my language. I’ve been agitated with worry through this whole business, and knowing all that could happen in this surgery has had me on edge. I’m relieved.”
 
An hour later, Robyn was getting everyone’s attention. “I need to kick all of you out. The doctor is on her way, and we’ll need to disconnect all of Teri’s tubes and her catheter. After the doctor finishes checking her dressings, I’ll bring you back so you can talk to her, and we can get her up and walking today. It should take me about thirty minutes, and when I’m done, I’ll come get you.”
 
Conor smiled. “That’s fine. We can all take a lunch break. We packed food and left it in coolers in the Recovery Lounge. C’mon, gang, let’s go eat.”
 
Teri sat up and waved her hands. “Hey! What about me? Who’s going to feed me?”
 
Robyn laughed. “Your cafeteria tray is on its way. It’s not catered, just hospital food. Get used to it. You’re on a pretty strict diet for the next three days.”
 
Teri could be heard moaning and feigning complaints as everyone filed out.
 
Amy and Conor pulled out sandwiches, sodas, and pretzels a few minutes later.
 
Jenn and Tiffany got out the napkins and paper plates as Tiffany spoke. “This looks good, Mrs. Nelson. Thank you for feeding us. You, too, Conor.”
 
Jenn always smiled that Tiffany was on a first-name basis with Conor. She remembered hearing about how, in the old days, when Conor was smuggling arms worldwide, he was very selective about who Zoe could bring home to his very secure home. Teri had told her that the mansion had walls and lights everywhere. She’d visited there once when she first joined the Wildcats.
 
Since then, Conor had fallen in love with Teri and Lisa’s mom. The Wildcats knew they’d played Cupid and were all pleased with themselves that the two parents had found each other. Zoe’s mom had died of cancer when she was nineteen, and both Conor and she had been heartbroken. When her mom had been diagnosed, Conor Finely had given up being an outlaw and dedicated himself to his family’s well-being.
 
Now, he was content to dabble in importing Japanese Saki and fine French wines. He was still sore that the government wouldn’t give him an export license to sell Kentucky Bourbon to the world. He said, “They’re still mad. They’d never made a case against me. And now it’s too late.”
 
A new voice could be heard as everyone munched down on Italian hoagies and Herr’s potato chips. “Hey, gang! Did you leave anything for me?” 
 
Everyone stood up and exchanged hugs and kisses with Gina. As they found her a soda and a sub, she told them her conversation with her dad: “We’re each twenty thousand dollars richer. I never knew it, but online services pay us royalties every time a song is played. Our checks are deposited. Mine is already earmarked for a Grace present.”
 
Tiffany turned. “Twenty grand is sweet. I also want to see the statistics from William Wiggins on which songs were requested the most, as well as the breakdown from the streaming services. I’m curious to see what songs were requested.”
 
Gina looked at her. “What’s that going to tell you?”
 
Tiff nodded. “It’ll give us insight into which songs were the favorites. That will help us to plan for the next record.”
 
Gina laughed and held up a wrapped package. “Yeah, speaking of records. Richard and Phil gave me a present to give to Teri. They discovered five mint-condition vinyl recordings of Jimi Hendrix's live performances. Cool, huh?”
 
Jenn was smiling. “Oh, my gosh. She’s going to be climbing out of bed to hear them. All she’s been doing since she was on the Tonight Show and met Questlove is going crazy buying vinyl. I don’t even ask her how much she spends.”
 
Gina smiled. “I thought she was getting all of her stuff through Questlove.”
 
“Right. The pair of them are music nerds. But even DJ Blank has been helping her track down vinyl.”
 
Tiffany smiled. “Blank! How’s he doing? Is he still at the Rendezvous?”
 
Jenn was nodding. “Yep. However, he’s branching out since helping remix "Show Me Some Love." He’s become pretty popular in the recording studio, too. He told Teri he’s doing shows all along the East Coast.”
 
Tiffany gave a thumbs-up. “It’s so good to hear that he’s become successful. It’s hard to believe that Teri conceived the song and sent it to him the second night we played together at the Rendezvous.”
 
Gina laughed. “Remember how she just taught it to us on the fly. And you made a big deal and didn’t want to do dance music.”
 
“Yeah, when I heard what he was doing, I worried about our cred as a punk band. And, hey. We might have been second-rate, but we had a reputation to keep.”
 
“Yeah, the bad girls of punk. So original.”
 
“Back then, Teri was our Little Shit. And to think, I was worried. Little did I know that that club song would make us famous.”
 
Gina laughed. “Yeah, I so remember you questioned Teri’s value. You want to kick that girl to the curb, saying that we didn’t need a fifth member and an eighteen-year-old would only slow us down.”
 
Tiffany was rolling with laughter. “And I was so right! I’m truly gifted when it comes to reading our future. Yeah, that Teri kid sure has been nothing but trouble.”
 
Amy cleaned up the lunch and packed everything in the cooler they brought. “Speaking of trouble, I’m going to buzz Robyn and see if we can get in and see my daughter.”
 
At that moment, Robyn pushed the door open, and Teri stood beside her. Her voice was hoarse and soft. “Hey, gang! What’s up?”
 
Of course, everyone took their turn hugging and kissing her. It was a real celebration.
 
Teri felt the tears through her hospital gown and realized that her mom was coming undone. “Mom, mom. I’m here and everything is fine.”
 
“Oh, I know,” she whispered. “It’s just how much I love you. My baby is the most amazing woman I know.”
 
Robyn cleared her voice to get everyone’s attention. “We need to go back inside recovery. Teri and I need to walk a few more steps. When we return, I'll get you from the lounge. We won’t be long.”
 
Gina’s phone buzzed in her back pocket. She looked at the phone. “Hey, Jenn.”
 
Jenn looked up from putting the waters back in the cooler. “Uh-huh?”
 
“How many people did you text about Teri’s surgery?”
 
Jenn nodded. “Teri and I made a list. You know Teri. Not a lot of subtleties.”
 
 
Robyn looked at Teri as she slowly walked forward. She knew how uncomfortable she was, but was impressed at how hard she was trying. “Hey. You’re doing great, and I know you’re all about recovery, but we’re not here to overstrain.”
 
Teri shook her head. “How many painkillers do they have me on?”
 
Robyn still held her arm. “Tylenol and something to help you sleep. Not as much as you’d think. You’re still pretty numb down there. By the time you head home, you’ll be better.”
 
 
Smith closed his laptop. About two hours had passed. He looked over and saw that Lisa had her eyes closed. He was very content to stare at her while she slept. Then he heard a voice.
 
“Why are you staring at me, cowboy?”
 
“‘Cause I like to.”
 
Lisa popped a mint. Then she leaned over and kissed him softly. “Thank you, even if it’s a little creepy to wake up to feeling all that electricity coming from you.” She snaked her arm out and around his neck, pulled him towards her, and gave him another kiss. “Mmm. How horny are you?”
 
Smith perked up and grinned. “You know that First class has its bathroom. You coming?”
 
 
Fifteen minutes later, a flight attendant came their way after they had settled back in their seats. She was grinning and holding out two flutes of champagne on a tray.
 
After they had taken the glasses and thanked her, Lisa leaned over. “She knows, doesn’t she?”
 
Smith turned bright red. “I’m guessing that she’s seen it all. Now, don’t tease, but you’re my first mile-high club partner.”
 
Lisa shook her head. “I can’t believe Eaten by Raptors never had a private plane and groupies begging the lead singer to show them fireworks.”
 
Smith shook his head. “You’ve watched too many rock and roll movies. In the three years we toured, there were no private jets or crazy buses full of groupies. Sure, I partied like crazy, but we were country boys still full of those Texas manners. You know, like in yes ma’am.”
 
Lisa nipped his neck. “I don’t buy it, but if that’s what you’re selling.”
 
Smith tried to look hurt. “C’mon. Seriously. The guys will back me up. No mile highs.”
 
Lisa leaned in and hugged him around the neck. “Oh, baby. I love you. I do. But you’re an old guy who probably has a ton of scalps on his belt.”
 
Smith sighed. “Okay, so you’ve got me. When we were on the road, I kept three families going: one in New York, one in Florida, and one on the West Coast. I’ve got eight beautiful children, and I love them all.”
 
When Lisa smacked him, she remembered to tuck her thumb so the impact left a large impression on his arm.
 
Smith rubbed his arm and made a face. “Ouch. Lisa. That hurt. Ya gotta stop picking on an old man!”

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A Very Rough Draft of Chapter Fall of Wildcat Fall; suggestions are appreciated

Teri looked around. Jenn was perched on the edge of her hospital bed. After reaching over and taking her hand, Teri pulled her to her and kissed. Jenn kissed back, and for a minute, they were all alone together. After a few minutes, Jenn pointed so that Teri’s attention was towards the picture window. That way, she could listen in on Tiffany and Conor. The two of them were discussing the Wildcats' website and the number of hits on their YouTube channel was receiving.

Conor was excited. “The YouTube channel is blowing up since Mike started uploading weekly posts from the tour. Even though the tour ended, fans continue to hunger for clips. The viewership is soaring. It’s like the fans can’t get enough Wildcats.”

Tiffany smiled. “Whoever thought that could happen. Last fall, another band offered me a job playing bass and singing for a cover band. They offered me more money than I was making with the Cats. I was almost ready to jump on it. My love life was in the dumps, and well, I thought I needed a change.”

Conor nodded and listened. He didn’t say he’d already heard the story from his daughter. “Yeah, well how about now. Would you ever have thought things would be so different?”

“Nope. Teri was the spark. She seriously changed us around and made us the band we are today. I never thought things would be like this. Flying private, limos, big money in the bank, and a man who loves me. My life has made a complete turnaround.”

Conor was nodding. “And now there’s more. I was talking with Wiggins about posting some live cuts from the tour to the website.”

“You mean the stuff Mike and Final Cut shot for the website? I thought we were just going to include tiny snippets, not full tunes. Wouldn’t that take away from sales when people can hear and watch us for free?”

“Yeah. I would have thought so too. But it’s funny. Wiggins and Warner believe they could increase interest in the album’s songs. They think more people will want to download them to their playlists and that would boost sales.”

Tiff shook her head, still not understanding the logic. “Hey, if Wiggins is behind it, let’s discuss it. But we need to remember that the band has to approve anything that Warner does with our music.”

“Right. I know Richard wants to talk to everyone when Teri is recovered and at home. He knows he needs to gather the whole band in one place so everything can be discussed about Warner and the music. You know he wants feedback from everyone.”

Teri still didn’t have much voice but waved to get their attention. She motioned for them to come closer.“Did Wiggins indicate which live songs they wanted to add?”

Conor shrugged. “I don’t know. This was all just mentioned in a Zoom.”

Teri appeared puzzled. “Who’s in that?”

Conor smiled. “You know. The backers, the money, and the bookers - Me, Wiggins, Gina’s dad, Phil & Richard, and Gimli.”

“Do you have these meetings frequently?"

“Only when there’s something to say.”

Teri smiled. “Well, I see myself coming out to the band house and noodling with the sounds in about two weeks. I haven’t talked to the doctor yet, but I envision a swift recovery. Seriously, I’ve heard I won’t be able to sit comfortably for a while, but I play standing up, and we’ve got lawn chairs out on the deck where I can rest.”

Jenn laughed and hugged her. “Oh, don’t I hope so, baby. You have way too much energy to sit still for long.”

Gina glanced over at the money discussion and then turned back to Amy. She told Teri’s mom all about the painting she had ordered for Grace. “It will be the view of Central Park from her condo. That way, she can hang it in her office where she meets with patients. I’m meeting with her favorite artist and arranging for her to take photos. Hopefully, it’s going to remain a surprise.”

Amy smiled. “What a great idea! You know that Grace will love anything from you! Okay, but now some serious stuff. I’m always wondering about you and Grace. Have you two ever thought about getting married?”

Gina hugged Amy and gave her a peck on the cheek. “I have thought about it. I guess I think about it more than Grace. Back when we were in New Orleans and after seeing Brono’s brother, Amos, heading toward us with a loaded gun, I had an epiphany. Life is too short, and Grace is way too important to me. I told her then, but she turned me down. She loves me and we’ll be together forever. I guess that’s all I can do.” Gina leaned over and whispered, “Between you and me, I think she’s afraid.”

Amy was surprised. She thought that Grace would have loved to marry Gina. “Afraid of what?”

“I think Grace has this notion that by giving me free will and not being married, it’s reverse psychology. I think she’s saying no in hopes that I’ll keep asking. You know, however you write it, we have a perfect relationship.

Amy whispered, “I heard that you have an open relationship. I don’t know much about that, having never been married.”

Gina hugged her again. “Yeah, I keep forgetting about you and the sperm bank. I think that’s the gutsiest thing I’ve ever heard. But Grace and I love each other an awful lot. I see love as much more important than random sex. The couple of times that we’ve fought and Grace has kicked me to the curb, well, it kills me. And it’s never over someone else either. It’s just that Grace sometimes gets freaked out that I’m only twenty-two.”

Amy shook her head. “Grace looks a lot younger than thirty-five. I feel pretty inadequate when I look in the mirror and think that I’m less than ten years older than her.”

Gina smiled. “It’s all genetics. But she is the most beautiful woman I’ve ever been around.”

Amy hugged her back. “Well, if you don’t mind me battering you with personal stuff, I’m curious about the band on the road. Smith is the first guy I have ever seen my daughter get all excited about. I thought that she’s a lot like you with the casual sex thing. But I’ve never asked.”

Gina laughed, thinking about the offer she received that morning from her driver. She was still considering it and knew where the cute woman could be found. But right now, she had more important things to think about. “Yeah, funny you should mention that. When I’m on the road and Grace is in New York, casual sex seems all right. But I don’t go hunting down anyone ever. I guess that’s just my thing. You know, if I get an offer, it’s always on the table.”

“Well, how about my daughter? And please don’t ever tell her that we had this conversation.”

Gina winked. “This conversation never happened. But Lisa’s different. She’s kinda like a camel that can go a long time in the desert without water. On the road, once in a while, you know there’s going to be some lucky guy popping up, and then that’s it for a while. She never seemed to be into sex. But that has certainly changed.”

Gina shook her head. “Now she had a thing going with Teri’s anesthesiologist, that I don’t know. I kinda figured that we were all staying in one place for a while, and they really got along well. But they were just friends with benefits. But Smith. Oh wow. That was a whole different story. I’d never seen her behave like she does with Smith. Seriously, when they met in the Carolinas at the movie set, well, we all looked in amazement at how hard they fell for each other. It’s scary just how compatible they are.”

“Uh-huh. I’ve noticed that too. But she’s not like a lovesick girl mooning all about him. It’s like they’re kindred spirits and have known each other for a lot of lifetimes. And he’s such a good guy. I think he loves her.

“Oh, he does for sure. Did you see the ring?”

“Ring? Is that what you call that stone? It’s more like a boulder! I think that’s the first time I’ve seen three carats of flawless diamond.”

“Uh-huh. She keeps it around her neck. I see her stare at it for a while and gaze off. I’ve never seen her like this before. The whole band loves him, and they are a match.”

“You know, when Conor saw that, he asked me if I wanted one, too. The man’s way too wealthy, and I know he’d buy me something in a heartbeat. But I told him I’m happy that way we have it. I never want to try to replace Zoe’s mom. The two of them loved her way too much.”

Gina smiled. “You know, Mrs. Nelson, you are so smart. I guess that’s where Lisa gets her Zen from. She is special.”

Amy whispered, “I’m betting that after Zoe’s baby is born, Lisa and Tiff are going to commit, too. I see a whole different tour with the Wildcats. I think you’re going to need a nursery when you head out the next time.”

Gina laughed. “Well, you’re looking at one girl that won’t be delivering….”

Teri was watching and attempting to read lips. She felt content simply being there, absorbing it all.

Thirty minutes later, Robyn kicked everyone out. Then she had Teri up and on her feet. As they were walking through the Recovery section, all the feeling started returning to her legs. But her surgical area remained numb. “Is that normal to still feel numb down there, Robyn?”

“Once the doctor removes all the packing, you’ll regain more feeling. However, those nerve endings need to recover. Numbness is not related to the recovery process. You are healing every day, inside and out.”

After returning from her walk, all her visitors returned to the room. As Teri was back in bed and getting comfortable, she looked around. She felt her eyes starting to close. All the voices began to blend and fade. As she shut her eyes, it felt like things got quieter. Teri smiled. It did feel right to take a nap. She felt a kiss and heard Jenn’s voice whispering in her ear. “Close your eyes and rest. I’ll be here when you wake up.”

At the luggage carousel in the Philadelphia airport, Bruno couldn’t help but smile as he grabbed each piece of their luggage and loaded it onto a cart. After Zoe waved at him to confirm that he had everything, they headed to a different part of the airport and walked through the doors to the outside. A white SUV started up when the driver spotted the couple. As they climbed in, Zoe gave the man directions to the hospital.

She turned to Bruno. “After I get there and figure out what’s going on, I’ll give you a call.”

Bruno kissed her forehead. “Tell everyone I said hi, especially Teri. I’ll take our luggage home and wait to hear from you. I need to check in and see what’s going on with my business. After all, I have to pay for our vacation. Plus, we need to have the contractor come out and measure for our new waterfall shower.”

Zoe leaned over and kissed him. She knew that she could have easily used some Wildcat money to pay for their vacation, but Bruno was old school and liked to pay, too. “That’s going to be exciting.” She squeezed his arm and slipped out at the hospital entrance.

As Bruno unpacked the luggage from their shuttle, he looked up at their townhouse, considering whether they needed to expand the place. He’d always used the four-story building as his home and office. It worked perfectly when he was a bachelor, dating Zoe, but everything was changing. After tipping the driver, he dragged all the bags through the front door and to the elevator. Bruno knew that most of their clothes were headed to the washer. The laundry room was off their bedroom and walk-in closets.

After he sorted and started a load, he called his agent. Meanwhile, his contractor returned his call and scheduled a time to discuss the project. Bruno had taken dozens of photographs of the unique shower in Hawaii, where water flowed over the rocks and splashed into the shower.

He grinned as he thought about Zoe. When he met her five years ago, he immediately knew he was hooked. Bruno respected Zoe’s bond with the band and recognized the essential role they played in her life. He felt secure and was never threatened while watching the women interact with each other. In his mind, he had married into a family of Wildcats, content to share Zoe with the other young women. The Wildcats were a significant part of her identity; it was all about the music.

While he’d never played an instrument, he understood the magic that had her transfixed. He attempted to compare it to painting. He recalled that one time, Zoe watched as he worked and asked, “What are you thinking about when you’re painting?”

He stopped and thought. “I don’t know. I guess I’m not thinking about anything except focusing on the task at hand. I’m not daydreaming or letting my mind wander. It’s all about the brushstrokes, the color, and blending to create what I’m hoping for. Funny, how I never gave it much thought.”

Zoe moved closer to his face. “When you stop, how do you feel inside?”

He blinked and laughed. “I feel content, happy.”

She kissed him.

Now, when he painted, he became increasingly aware of his actions. The task became all-consuming, drawing him into a deep immersion in his work. He could paint for hours, entirely losing himself in the process. He had to admit that he longed to attain that state of mind and lose himself entirely. He recognized it was his drug.

He understood how Zoe’s mental health depended on playing her music. She needed her fix, and he enjoyed watching her reach for a guitar. He loved listening to her start strumming. He could hear her hum and sing to herself as she played. Sometimes, he would watch her play the same riff repeatedly until she felt satisfied that it sounded smoother as her fingers glided across the fretboard.

When Zoe walked into the Recovery Lounge, she was greeted by the crowd of Teri supporters who embraced her with hugs and kisses. “Hey, gang!”

She grinned as everyone needed to touch her belly and comment on how she looked. Zoe grinned. Even though it had only been a couple of weeks since they’d left for Hawaii, she knew that she’d started to drop and gain more bulk. Knowing that her baby needed whatever it wanted, Zoe grinned. She smiled at Teri and blew her a kiss. “How’s my girl doing?”

Teri blew the kiss back and gave her a thumbs up. “Doing great,” she croaked out.

Jenn gave her a big okay sign. “She’s doing great. We all gave her a break and let her rest. She hasn’t been out of surgery for twenty-four hours, but we’re rooting for a speedy recovery.”

Zoe winked. “Are you going to sneak her off to your apartment and keep her all to yourself?”

Jenn laughed and shook her head. “Yeah. Right. I’m scared to death that I won’t be able to handle everything. I’m hoping you all will drop by and keep Teri company. I’m afraid that she’s going to get bored just being restricted to lying down. And I’m starting classes next week on Monday.”

Tiffany stared at her. “What’s this about lying down?”

Amy explained, “Her whole surgical area will be healing for a couple of weeks. She’ll be able to lie down or recline. But no hard surfaces on her butt for a while. I’ve already bought her an inflatable donut to sit on. But she’s going to grow uncomfortable quickly.”

Jenn nodded. “That’s my fear. Teri’s not a sit-still kind of girl. She likes to be moving, and I don’t want her popping any stitches.”

Tiffany was hugging Jenn. "Well, I’m coming by to entertain her. Perhaps we can create a list and take turns. I’m signing up for the first couple of days."

Gina was laughing. “Good idea. However, we can tag-team this operation, and I’ll help Tiff for a couple of days. We can entertain the Little Shit, and Jenn can concentrate on getting straight A’s.”

Amy listened. “Good plan, ladies. But Momma Bear is going to be hovering all over the whole thing. She’s my baby even though she’s an adult.”

Zoe laughed. “I hope your apartment is large enough, Jenn. It’s going to get pretty crowded.”

Amy laughed. “It’ll all work out. Honestly, she’d be going to be doing a lot of napping. It will take her a couple of weeks to start feeling like herself. She’s not going to be a lot of laughs for a while.”

“Hey,” a voice croaked. “Don’t underestimate your Little Shit. I’m not down for the count.”

While Zoe hugged her and they laughed, Robyn interrupted. “I’ve got to take your guitar player out to walk for about ten minutes. You can all wait here in Teri’s room. We’ll be back soon, and the doctor is coming up at two o’clock to talk to you. Hopefully, she’ll tell you about Teri’s surgery and discharge.

At two, everyone met her surgeon, Sydney Rallings. She shook hands and smiled. “I guess I’m meeting all the famous Wildcats of Allentown. It’s nice to see the faces of the women we’ve been listening to in the operating room. We like your rock. It keeps us energized. But I’m asking all of you to give us a few minutes. I need to do some work with Robyn, and then I’ll want to talk to Teri, Jenn, and Amy.”

She watched the women line up and leave. The doctor looked around and then focused on Teri. “Well, your surgery went great, much better than I had hoped for. We utilized a different technique and used the robot to go through your belly button. You’ll see our little indentations under the bandages. In the meantime, using a robot allows us a lot more time inside without using a knife. And in your case, you had female organs inside, which we had a chance to examine carefully. After studying your MRIs, X-rays, and CT scans, it was great to see what I was working with finally. You have a very healthy set of ovaries that we were able to connect to your newly constructed vagina. We used a small portion of your stomach lining, making the operation straightforward. Using this technique means that you’ll heal faster."

“Now, we’re going to remove your dressing and take a look at everything. Normally, I’d kick everyone out, but since you’re going to be her home nurse and Amy is a surgical nurse, please stay.”

Teri watched as miles of gauze and tape were taken out from between her legs. She was still so numb that she couldn’t feel anything except for the occasional tug or pinch.