Healing Hearts | Keelin

Chapter Four

 Margret met Keelin at Rousseau's a few more times within the next two weeks. Margret had already liked Keelin, but found herself liking the doctor more and more. But at the same time, she wished she didn't: Margret was also getting to know Freya, Keelin's girlfriend, a little better, and she was a nice person, a good woman. Margret felt bad liking Keelin so much when she was already in such a great relationship. It made her actually try to avoid the couple, hoping she wouldn't run into them so there wouldn't be any awkwardness. She didn't like doing it, but she did it anyway. 

 During this time, Margret also took the time to get to know New Orleans and the French Quarter. She learned the history, the culture, the people, the supernatural. By spending time in Rousseau's, she met a few people Josh knew, and everyone seemed nice. And speaking of Josh, Margret was beginning to form a sort of friendship with the bartender. If she ever went into Rousseau's the same time he happened to be there, she knew it wouldn't be a bad time. She wasn't particularly fond of anyone else who worked there. 

 As far as the subject of Keelin goes, Margret had begun to have a small crush on her. That was why she was trying to avoid her. Keelin was exactly the kind of woman Margret hated herself for falling her: a woman who was already in a relationship she was dedicated to. If she and Freya were happy together, what chance would Margret have? Most likely none. She would only be torturing herself by falling too deep. 

~~~~~~ 

 Margret was about to open the door and enter Rousseau's when she heard, "Hey, Margret?" 

 She turned to her right. It was Keelin. She was wearing a jacket over her scrubs. She must have recently left the hospital. 

 "Keelin. Busy day?" Margret asked. 

 "Weirdly, no. That's why I'm going home early. And besides, I won't be having many more days there, anyway."

 "Really? Were you fired?" 

 "Oh, no, I didn't get fired. I'm just..." Keelin looked in the window of Rousseau's. "Hey, I have a little time. Why don't we go in and talk?" 

 Margret held the door open. "After you." 

 When they were inside and seated at a table, Margret asked, "So, what's this story with your job? Are you going to be working somewhere else?" 

 "Something like that, yeah," Keelin answered. "I'm going to another country with the military." 

 "The army? So, you'll be a military doctor?" 

 Keelin nodded. "Yeah, exactly. I think it can end up being a great opportunity for me, and I want to go." 

 "How long do you think you'll be gone?" 

 "I don't know, but it could be months, maybe even a year," Keelin said. "I already told Freya last night." 

 "Oh." Margret sensed that conversation hadn't gone well. "How did she take it?" 

 "Not too well. She said she's glad I'm taking the career path I want to take, but she obviously doesn't want me to go. I mean, I get it, but I still want to do it." 

 "Keelin, if it's the path you want to take in your career, you should take it," Margret said. "But is there a way Freya could go with you?" 

 "Probably, but she wouldn't. She won't. Taking care of everything here in New Orleans is too important to her. It's...going to be hard to leave." 

 Margret picked up one of the napkins on the table. "Do you have a pen on you?" 

 Keelin happened to, and Margret used it to write down the address of the hotel she was staying in on the napkin. 

 "Write to me," she said. "And let me know where I'll be able to write to you. We can be pen pals. It might help you with any loneliness knowing you have a friend to write back and forth with." 

 Keelin smiled. "I'd like that. Thank you, Margret." 

 When they parted for the night, Margret walked down the street with a smile. Once Keelin left, there was no telling when they would see each other in person again, but they would be in touch, because Keelin liked Margret, and that made her happy.