2. Prescription For Love

The routine was a constant she’d come to think would never change, but as she looked back over the last few years, she realized life had been slowly changing for a long time. Carson was the first to leave when she’d married Bill while still in college. Harper moved into the caretaker’s house when she and Flann returned from residency to start practice at the Rivers, but that had seemed almost like she still lived at home. Harper was gone now, having pretty much vacated the little house to live with Presley in their new home.

Flann hadn’t spent a night sitting on the back porch with Harper and her father, talking about cases, in weeks. Margie was getting ready to drive soon, and it wouldn’t be long before she’d be off to college. While Flann had been focused on avoiding any kind of personal ties, everyone else had been making their own lives. Oh, she could always come home—they all could and would, she knew that in her heart. But her life wasn’t here anymore—it was somewhere else, waiting for her to be brave enough to grab it. The idea no longer seemed impossible.

“I’ll see you at the game tomorrow night,” Flann said as she helped Margie get her bike out of the back of the Jeep.

“You playing?”

“Not a whole game yet,” Flann said. “I’m giving my leg a rest.”

“You’ll be there, though, right?”

“Wouldn’t miss it.” Flann ruffled her hair. She wanted to tell her to hold on to these summer nights, to imprint them in her bones, because the time would come when the memories would remind her of what really mattered the most. “Okay, that’s good.”

Margie looked younger in the moonlight, younger and innocent and maybe just a little worried. Margie rarely if ever looked uncertain, and warning bells went off. “Is everything going okay with you?”

“Oh, sure.”

She didn’t sound so sure, and Flann wasn’t much for subtlety anyhow. “How are things with

Blake?”

Margie leaned against the Jeep. “You mean with him and the other kids?”

“Yeah. Or with you.”

“Him being trans, you mean.”

Flann reined herself in to go at Margie’s pace. “If that’s part of it, sure.”

“Pretty much okay.”

Margie wasn’t one for noncommittal statements either. Flann leaned next to her and slid her hands into her pockets. This could take some time, and she had nowhere else to be that mattered more.

“Does that mean sometimes yes but sometimes no?”

“Everybody I’ve introduced him to has been cool. But you know, all my friends are cool.”

Flann laughed and bumped her shoulder. “Of course.” “Richie West is an ass,” Margie said emphatically.

Richie West. Flann snorted. Richie West was one of those aimless guys a few years out of high school with no particular ambition who never really wanted to grow up—longing for the glory days of adolescence and resenting anyone who broke away from the pack. Flann saw him now and then, hanging around with a bunch of similar going-nowhere guys tinkering with motorcycles, drinking too much, and basically waiting for their big break to come along unaided by anything they might do.

“He’s giving you trouble?”

“Not really,” Margie said. “Just the usual bullshit.”

“What kind of bullshit do you mean?” Flann tried to keep her temper out of her voice so Margie would keep talking. If an older guy was after Margie, she was going to put a stop to that right quick.

“He’s been bothering you?”

Margie hunched a shoulder. “He’s tried to get me to go for a ride with him a couple of times.”

“A ride.” Flann gritted her teeth. God, she wanted to kill him. “And what did you say?”

Margie grinned, her straight white teeth gleaming in the moonlight. She was a young lioness, and one day, she would rule her own pride. “I told him I wasn’t interested.”

“And he let it drop?”

“Sort of. Yeah, I guess.”

“Come on, Margie. Why didn’t you tell me about this before?”

“Because I didn’t want you to hunt him down and kick his ass.” She was laughing, knowing Flann didn’t choose physical violence as a first resort. “What’s the rest of it?”

“He just makes comments when he sees me sometimes, and then Blake and I were walking home tonight and

” She shrugged again. “I told you, he’s an ass.”

“What did he say?”

“He just followed us awhile on his motorcycle, saying how Blake was a freak and if I wanted a dick he had one for me.” Margie huffed. “He is a dick, but I didn’t say it.”

“Smart move,” Flann said, a cold wave of fury rolling through her. “What did the two of you do?” “Nothing. It’s better not to engage.”

Flann stroked her hair. “You’re pretty damn smart, you know that?”

“Yeah.” Margie leaned against her, and Flann slid an arm around her shoulders. “Blake is really brave, you know?”

Flann kissed the top of her head. “Yep. And so are you. If West bothers you again, you let me or Harper know.” “Okay.”

Margie made no move to move away and Flann kept her close. They might not have too many moments like this.

“So, you and Dr. Remy have a thing?” Margie said finally.

“Margie,” Flann groaned. “Personal. Remember?”

“Well, how come you can ask me about my personal stuff, then?”

“That’s different.”

“Why, because you’re older?”