Silent Storm Lesbian Story

07: Nom de Dieu (Jesus)!

07: Nom de Dieu (Jesus)!

"Hey Dr. Kaplan!"

Davis looked up to see Carter standing in her doorway, she checked the wall clock quickly. "Hi Carter! Did we have a meeting? Did I miss something?" Davie stood preparing to grab her jacket.

"You, miss something?!" Carter laughed,"No Dr. Kaplan, you're good."

Davie made the international sign for relief drawing the back of her hand across her forehead and eased back into her chair.

"It's just that I was hoping I could take you to lunch. You've been kind of ... focused ... lately." Carter grinned, raising an eyebrow.

"Hmmm. Okay, okay, I get it!" Davie grimaced,"So I've been grumpy?"

"No! No! Um, intensely focused on your work." Carter pushed slightly, he considered them friends. "Dr. Kaplan, you used to smile a little more."

"Oh, I see. You're right." Davie found that she was still temporarily driving thoughts of Vineeta from her mind, wielding work like a shield. She could see how her behavior would seem both distant and abrasive. She wondered if the pain and sorrow would ever end. "I'm sorry, I've been distracted. Thank you for the heads up! Lunch it is."
----

Carter and Davie walked slowly toward Camellia Grill. The small restaurant was always busy but a local favorite and worth the wait. "Are you hungry?"

"Mm-Hmm, Actually, I'm kind of starving. I don't think I ate breakfast." Lately Davie found her senses dulled and food didn't hold the same joy it had a few months ago.

"Yeah I've noticed that you've been throwing yourself into your work."

Davie smirked,"It's a little bit of a defense mechanism Carter. Sorry about that."

"Oh it's no problem! I get it. New Orleans isn't just 'another city.' It's an intensely different culture. 'Overwhelming' doesn't seem to do the city justice."

Davie nodded and sighed,"I guess I didn't think it would be this different." Davie glanced up and she paused for a moment realizing they were getting ready to walk past Cane and Cream.

"Oh! You know this place? It is the best ice cream shop in town!"

Davie nodded, smiling,"Yes and amazing P-R-A-L-I-N-E-S."

Carter laughed,"Yes, I use the signs for 'nut' and 'candy.' What do you think?" Carter grinned, "Ice cream or red beans and rice for lunch?"

Davie laughed and started toward the door.
----

As soon as Davie crossed the threshold a wave of deja vu overwhelmed her. Her body relaxed and she took a deep, calming breath. When she looked and found Delia, an intense emotional memory rippled through her body and Davie felt comforted.

"Dr. Kaplan?!"

Davie turned to see a vaguely familiar face looking back at her. Two young women were sitting at the end of the bench area. Davie tilted her head slightly and both she and Carter moved over to them. Davie smiled at the young woman and mouthed, "Hello?"

"It's Nell, we met at Dr. McClendon's party? It's been a while."

Davie signed and Carter spoke,"Oh yes! Of course. You're studying sustainable materials and design. Right?"

Nell flushed and beamed,"Wow! Yes, I can't believe you remembered that!"

Davie laughed lightly, it felt vaguely familiar and she sighed with relief. She nodded toward Nell's ice cream,"Good?"