For notes and disclaimers, please read first chapter

Part 2

Katie woke up early. Her body was still getting used to the time difference. Plus, the sounds of Manhattan didn't help. She went down. The house was quiet. She figured Jade and Yana must still be sleeping. She tiptoed to the kitchen and was surprised to find Yana sitting on the breakfast counter, deep in thought.

"Hey!" Katie greeted.

Yana looked up. It seemed as if she was crying, her eyes were swollen.

Katie slipped beside her and placed her arms around Yana.

"You alright?" She asked concerned.

"Jade told me... she told me about her tumour." Yana choked out the words.

Katie looked at Yana, helpless. She did not really know what to do or say in this situation. She was feeling sad for her friend, but she could possibly not imagine how grieved Yana must be.

Yana looked down at her hands. All Katie could do was rub Yana's shoulders reassuringly.

"Hey, pretty girls!" Jade called out cheerfully.

Both Katie and Yana looked up at that moment. Jade sat on the other side of Yana.

"You people look as if you have just attended my funeral." Jade joked.

"Jade!" Yana cried out. Katie gave her friend a displeased look.

"Sorry..." Jade murmured, "Lame joke."

"On a more serious note..." Jade continued lightly, "It's nice to know that I am so loved."

"Ohh... Jade..." Yana threw herself on Jade and hugged her. Katie and Jade exchanged glances. Katie gave her a silent look of support.

"I want to come with you to Boston." Yana asserted.

"No, you can't. You have your meeting with the financers tomorrow." Jade reminded her.

"Screw the meeting. I want to be there for you."

"Baby... you are always with me, wherever I am. And anyways, it is not that I am going to start my surgery immediately. I need to talk to the doctor. She will set the date which in most probability is going to be sometime after this week."

Yana bit her lip. She knew Jade was right. But at this point, she wanted to be with her more than anything else in the world. She finally nodded. She looked at Katie.

"Katie, promise me that you would not let Jade do anything reckless." Yana asked, expectantly.

Katie smiled, "Don't worry, if she does not follow doctor's advice, I am sending her to you via FedEx."

Jade and Katie were sorting through some of the account files and placing them in Jade's bag. The businesswoman that she was, Jade did not want to be away from work even for a day.

"Yana took it well." Katie noted.

"Yeah... I was afraid... like she'll break down or something. Yana had lost her parents in a plane crash and her sister died from AIDS. I thought that she wouldn't be able to bear another tragedy."

"Sometimes... life's tragedies help you to become stronger than weaker." Katie said philosophically.

"Speaking from experience, Kathryn?" Jade teased.

Katie shrugged. "I have seen tragedies in my life, yes. But none of the mass devastation kind. Mine have been more... subtle and ordinary."

"I would not say losing someone when you were still in school and not being able to forget her even after fifteen years is subtle and ordinary." Jade said quietly.

Katie swallowed hard. Jade was one of the very few people who knew about Jessie. Even though Jade understood the love Katie felt for Jessie, she did not understand as to why Katie had kept it in her heart like some cursed ornament; not being able to part with it and at the same time not being able to share it with others.

"I have given up on tragedy in that route forever. I made a mistake of losing my heart once, I won't do that again."
"So is that why you go around breaking others' hearts? A balm for your own bruises?" Jade asked.

Katie's eyes flashed with anger. "We had this conversation, Jade."

"Well... you never see the pain in all the ladies' eyes when you so very charmingly break it to them that they mean nothing to you."

"And you apparently do." Katie said dryly.

Jade looked up. "Danielle came to my office. She accused me of sleeping with you."

Katie looked bored. "Never mind her. She's been born with insecurities."

"Do you ever feel for anyone but yourself?" Jade asked bitterly.

"Excuse me?" Katie stepped back, her lips thinned.

Jade shook her head. "I'm sorry... I'm a bit grumpy today. But seriously, Kathryn, don't you think it is time that you know... you settle down with someone nice."

Katie rolled her eyes, "Marriage... family... those are just not for me. Sorry."

Jade looked at Katie from the corner of her eyes. She knew there was a really warm person behind the cold exterior that Katie liked to put. She was the receiving end of that love and so was Yana. She had also seen how Katie was with her mother and her brothers. It was just her numerous liaisons that infuriated Jade. Even though she convinced herself that it was none of her business, she knew that she could not stop herself from caring.

She knew the reason. Whenever Katie broke someone's heart, a part of her broke too. That is why Katie never had a more relationship that lasted for more than a month. There were no strings attached for either one of them. Over the years, she had seen Katie turned bitter not because of what was happening to her but because of what she was doing to others. This fact tore Jade's heart.

Jessie finished off her last file and buried her face in her hands. It had been a long day. Not because of her patient rounds but because of the amount of paperwork she had to do. Usually, she asked her assistant, Iris to do it for her. But there were some details that only she could enter and she had been procrastinating it for too long.

"Dr. Sammler, there is a call for you on Line 3." Her secretary, Pat called out.

Jessie picked it up.

"Hello?"

"Hi, Dr. Sammler, this is Jade von Heinbich."

"Oh, Miss von Heinbich. How are you?"

"Good, doctor, thanks. I called to ask you whether we could meet."

Jessie frowned as she looked at Jade's file on her computer screen.

"But we have an appointment scheduled for this Wednesday, don't we?"

"Oh. Yes we do. I was just thinking whether you could schedule something earlier."

Jessie rubbed her throbbing forehead. "I am sorry, Miss von Heinbich. But I don't think that will be possible. ."

" I would like to be done with my surgery as soon as possible, Dr. Sammler." Jade's voice was sharp and clear.

Jessie groaned, "I'm sure you would, Miss von Heinbich. But as I said, I do not think I can reschedule your appointment. And anyways, my secretary handles these things. Maybe you would like to speak to her."

Jessie put the receiver down. Her first impression of Jade von Heinbich was of a woman who was highly into herself. She was smart and strong, yes. But she was also officious and believed that the world revolved round her. Of course, she did not take her tumour diagnosis very well. Jessie did not particularly like women like these. She also knew Jade was very wealthy and would pay any price for her recovery. Jessie could not think of a price to put for her tolerance of Jade's dominating behaviour.

"I can't believe that woman." Jade muttered when Katie joined her at the table.

"What's wrong?" Katie asked.

"She pretty much dismissed me. She said that she cannot reschedule my appointment and also she asked me to go and speak to her secretary."

Katie frowned, "Yeah... isn't that the person you go to when you want to talk about appointments?"

Jade glared at her, "I know. But I wanted this to be a quick arrangement. I didn't want to go through the please-hold-on-I'll-check routine."

"And this doctor of yours told you to fuck off?" Katie laughed, "I already like her."

Jade screwed her face in annoyance and Katie tried controlling her bubbling laughter. As far as she knew, Jade was such a person, standing up to her is like shouting at the mountains to move.

"You are lucky I am in a good mood today." Jade threatened.

"Ooohh... you are scaring me Heinbich." Katie laughed.

Katie dodged as Jade picked up a knife in mock attack.

"So when is Yana coming?" Katie asked as she slid out of her BMW convertible.

Jade followed her and shrugged, "She said she would be here by 4-ish tomorrow. I don't know. Her meeting did not go too well and she might have to arrange for another one tonight."

Jade and Katie walked up the stairs to the Boston Mercy Hospital. Jade's doctor was on a part-time attachment here and she felt that Jade's surgery could be conducted faster in this private infirmary. Walking through the revolving doors, Katie smiled in approval at the modern-looking, polished hospital. She wondered whether the shift to this hospital was Jade's idea or her doctor's.

They went to the reception desk where a tall red-hair was sleekly giving instructions to a suit-clad patient.

At that moment, Katie's phone rang. She excused herself while Jade asked directions to Dr. Sammler's office. Katie and Jade walked up to the capsule elevators.

"Elegant..." Katie murmured.

"Yes." Jade said confidently.

They stopped at the sixth floor where the office was.

"You know, you never told me your doctor's name." Katie pointed out.

"Why do you want to know?" Jade asked curiously.

"No special reason." Katie shrugged. "It's strange that you never mentioned her name. You just called her my doctor or the doctor."

Jade frowned, thoughtfully. "Yeah... now that you mentioned it. I agree I never told you her name. Okay, her name is..."

"Omigosh!" Katie exclaimed. "That girl is hot!" She looked at a dark-haired, dusky beauty that was leaning against the wall, talking on her phone.

"She is the secretary, Patricia."

Katie smiled, "I never knew that doctor's offices are so very interesting. I should start booking appointments with my doctor more often."

Jade rolled her eyes. "Geez, Katie. Spare that poor girl atleast."

Katie smirked. "What do you want me to do while you talk with your white-haired, plump, grandmotherly doctor? I'm just preparing for some entertainment for the next one hour."

"She is not a white-haired, plump, grandmotherly doctor." Jade corrected, impatiently.

The dark beauty noticed them and immediately shut her phone and walked towards them.

"Hello, you must be Jade von Heinbich." She smiled.

"Yes, and I am Kathryn Singer, her friend." Katie gave her a disarming smile.

"Nice to meet you. I am Patricia D'Costa. Dr. Sammler is waiting for you." She looked at Jade.

"Did you just say Dr. Sammler?" Katie asked.

"Yes, she did. Katie, I'll just be in. You can wait here if you want." Jade looked at Katie questioningly.

"Katie?" Jade asked again, noticing her friend was lost in thought.

"Uh? Huh? Oh yeah... sure..." Katie nodded.

Jade frowned and then shrugging she made her way in.

"You alright?" Patricia looked at the tall, blonde woman.

Shaking herself out of her confusion, Katie grinned. "Yeah, thanks. By the way, this dress looks great on you, Ms. D'Costa..."

"So, you have talked with your partner about this?" Jessie leaned back on her chair and observed Jade.

Jade nodded. "Yana knows. She agrees that I should have this operation too."

"Good." Jessie said, "I have talked with the anaesthesiologist and another neurosurgeon out here. Plus, the manager of the Mercy is planning to schedule the surgery sometime next week. Would that be okay for you?"

Jade nodded. "Fine by me."

Jessie punched on her phone. She frowned when she did not hear a response.

"Funny..." Looking at Jade, "Did you happen to see my secretary when you came here?"

Jade nodded, "Yeah, she was in the outside cubicle."

"Oh? So now where did she go?" She tried punching the keys again.

Jade laughed. "I think she caught the Kathryn Syndrome."

Jessie slowly looked up, "The what?"

"The Kathryn Syndrome. It is the disease that every woman gets when my friend, Kathryn happens to fancy her. She came with me and she fell for your secretary siren. I am assuming Kathryn is charming the girl right now."

Jessie narrowed her eyes, "Well... I think I have to personally get my secretary rid of this Kathryn Syndrome."

"I'll follow you." Jade laughed. "Kathryn is hard to tame."

Jessie and Jade walked out of her office. Jessie went straight to the small cabin that was Patricia's. She saw Patricia there, giggling like an idiot. Beside her was a woman with fine, reddish-brown hair. Her back was towards the door, but Jessie could see that the woman was tall and slim.

"Patricia!" Jessie's voice was authoritative.

Patricia turned and her cheeks were flushed with embarrassment as she saw her boss.

But Jessie's attention was focused on the brunette who had also turned.

If ever it was possible for time to stop, it was now.

Before them, flashed images of fifteen years ago. Images of classes and lunchroom, images of snow-covered girls, hugging and kissing each other, images of an attic that was a haven for two lovers, images of lockers and washrooms.

There were images of two young girls who kissed each other for the first time. Two young girls who held hands and looked into each other's eyes and nothing else mattered. Two young girls whose love echoed in the air that surrounded them.

In that moment, everything came to a standstill.

Jessie and Katie saw each other for the first time in fifteen years and all they could do was drown into each other's gaze.

"Katie?" Jade's voice broke the fog of surprise and bliss in Katie's mind as she steered back to reality.

"Jade..." Katie could only whisper.

"God! What the hell happened to both of you?" Jade asked, noticing that the air had suddenly become charged.

Neither Jessie nor Katie replied.

Feeling extremely uncomfortable, Jade said, "This is my friend Katie... Kathryn Singer and this is Dr. Jessica Sammler. But I guess both of you already knew that."

"Hello Kathryn." Jessie's voice was chilled.

"Hello Jessica." Katie's voice took up the challenge.

"So what's the deal with you and Dr. Sammler?" Jade asked.

"There is no deal." Katie replied curtly.

Jade sighed. "C'mon Kathryn. There was something going on between you two. I felt like I was standing on a freakin' Arctic iceberg, for God's Sake."

"Just drop it, OK?" Katie's voice was laced with irritation.

Of course, Jade cannot drop it.

"Was she your girlfriend or something? But... how can that be possible? You haven't been here for the last fifteen years..."

"Jade..." Katie gritted her teeth in warning.

Jade waved her hands, "Alright... alright... I'll not say anything."

There was a heavy silence during which Jade shot Katie surreptitious glances.

Finally, Katie sighed, "She is Jessie."

"Jessie?" Jade frowned. "I don't think I know any girlfriend of yours called..."

Her eyes widened, "Oh My God! Jessie? THAT Jessie? YOUR Jessie?"

Katie's lips curved in a bitter smile, "Yes."

Jade blinked in astonishment. She had heard about Jessie a long time ago. But she did not think that she would ever be meeting this mysterious Jessie.

"So are you guys... like, you know... I mean... meeting up or something?"

"No." Katie said firmly, and then sighed. "I don't know... I do... I mean... I kinda want to."
"Then go for it." Jade placed her hands on Katie's shoulders.

"She hates me." Katie sighed.

"No she doesn't." Jade smiled, "Just like you couldn't."

"Jessie would you stop ruining my carpet and tell me what the hell is wrong?" Grace asked impatiently as she glared at Jessie pacing back and forth in her living room.

Jessie had arrived unannounced at her doorstep earlier in the evening. Not that she minded Jessie coming. She adored her stepsister and so did her husband and kids. Jessie was always so busy and any visit from her was welcome.

Grace noticed that her sister was fidgety and worried the whole evening. Later, she asked to speak to Grace alone. They have been in the living room for one hour and Jessie still hasn't spewed what's eating her.

"Grace... " Jessie shrugged helplessly. She bit her nails as she continued her pacing.

"Jessie, calm down and tell me what's wrong." Grace told her reassuringly.

Jessie breathed deeply and said, "Katie's here."

"Katie?" Grace's eyes literally popped open. "You mean Katie Singer?"

Jessie nodded sullenly.

"Jesus!" Grace murmured. She looked at Jessie and immediately felt the younger girl's pain. She had witnessed the growing romance between Katie and Jessie when they were in school and more than anything she had felt that it was the most beautiful thing. When Jessie and Katie broke up, she knew that it would affect Jessie more than she would admit. She had been right.

"Did you meet her? Talk to her?" Grace inquired.

"She came in with a friend who is my patient."

"Oh..." Grace was deep in thought.

"So, what do you want to do now, Jess?"

Jessie shook her head and collapsed on the sofa. "I don't know, Grace. I really don't." She admitted.

Grace could only look at her and wonder about this drastic change of events.

January 23, 2003

"You know Grace, I can't think of a thing to buy Katie." Jessie grumbled.

Grace shrugged, "Just give her flowers."

"Yeah... but those are so common." Jessie complained.

"Well... with kind of money you've saved, I would say even flowers are like iffy."

Jessie glared at her sister. Suddenly the phone rang. Grace rolled her eyes.

"Great! Now I have to wait for another 3 hours to use the phone."

"Shut up and go away!" Jessie smiled.

"Tell Katie I said hi." Grace grinned as she walked down from the attic.

"Hello."

"Hi! Is this an official Lost-and-found center?" Katie's voice warmed through Jessie's ears.

"Yes." Jessie smiled. "What have you lost?"

"My heart." She heard Katie sigh. "Some blonde-haired, blue-eyed girl stole my heart."

Jessie giggled, "Really? Then maybe you should complain to the police."

"I would have..." Katie said softly, "Except I want her to keep my heart forever."

Jessie blushed. "Well... your case sounds so very complicated. I had a similar complaint earlier. Someone said that a tall brunette had stolen her heart."

"Uh.. really?" Katie faked confusion, "Must be stealing season."

'Yes... must be." Jessie laughed hard.

"Jess, I love you." Katie spoke sincerely.

"I know, Billy." Jessie's words smiled, "I love you too."