Amy's Wednesday

The sultry day had long since given way to a clear, but chilly night under a waxing crescent moon and shimmering stars. Awash in light, cascading down from the gooseneck lamp mounted above the barn door, Amy waited her arrival. Clad in only a nightshirt and cowboy boots, she wrapped her arms around herself to keep warm.

Just a hair after midnight, Alicia pulled up to the red barn, mere feet away, then shut the engine off.

"Brr. It's nippy out here." She said as she exited her car, pushing the car door shut with her hip.

"Thanks for coming. I know it's late." Amy met her halfway, hugged her friend.

"No worries. I have a light morning." Alicia, wearing silk pajamas in a dainty petal print and leather slides and carrying a small overnight bag, fibbed. "Come on. Let's get this party started."

Amy led the way up to the loft. Once inside, both shucked their footwear, then padded into the homey, warm space.

"Feels nice and toasty in here."

"Want something to drink?" Amy asked, moving into the kitchen. "Tea?"

"Nah. I'm good." She noticed the flower arrangement on the dining room table, ambled over to get a closer look. "Beautiful. Who sent the roses?" She leaned in to take in their scent.

"Andrew. For my first day of classes." Amy filled a tall glass with water from the sink faucet.

Plucking the card from the arrangement, she read it aloud. "Amy. Hope your first day was great, your tomorrows even better. Love Andrew."

"Wasn't that so thoughtful?" Amy took a sip.

"More than thoughtful...Red roses seem a little over the top for just friends, don't you think?"

"Typical for Andrew." Amy replied with a shrug, taking a seat on one end of the couch. Purring, Norton joined her immediately, snuggling into her lap. "By the way. He still wants us to come to Mill Spring."

"Really? The card doesn't say that." Alicia deadpanned.

She chuckled. "No. We talked. He wanted to make sure I'd be there."

Alicia noticed her use of I. "So you're still talking regularly?"

"Not really. We talked some yesterday. And, tonight."

"What did you say?" Alicia asked. "I mean. About the games?"

"I promised him I'd be there for him, to support him." She said, then tacked. "Rather we would."

"Of course." She said, then asked nonchalantly as she sat down next to her, tucking her bare feet and red painted toes beneath her. "So, he's still paying for our trip?"

"Yes."

"Ah. I see."

Amy added somewhat defensively. "You know it was a gift."

"Yes, a gift...for his girlfriend."

"What are you trying to say?" Her eyes narrowed.

"Are you back together?"

"What?" Amy flinched. "No, of course not. We're just friends. Why would you ask that?" Her brow furrowed.

It was Alicia's turn to shrug.

"Alicia. We just broke up. Nothing has changed." She retorted.

"My point exactly. Nothing has changed, Amy. He's still sending roses, he's still paying for our trip. You're still talking, still texting regularly. Am I wrong?" She leaned in ever so slightly forward, making her point.

"We're friends. Friends talk." She defended the situation.

"Friends don't send red roses. Friends don't pay for extravagant trips to other countries."

"Those are exceptions."

"Exceptions, huh?" Alicia leaned back slightly, giving some space.

"Yeah."

"So just friends, huh?"

"Yes. Just friends."

"So, you wouldn't mind sharing the texts you and Andrew sent today then."

"Not at all." Amy unlocked her phone, then passed it to her.

Alicia looked at the image on the tiny screen, smiled. "The roses are really beautiful."

"I wanted him to see how pretty they were." She explained.

"Naturally." She cleared her throat, lowered her chin, then read Amy's first text in a flirty way. "Oh Andrew. The roses are beautiful. Thank you. Off to my second day. Wish me luck." She batted her eyelashes, tossed her hair.

"Hey! I don't talk that way." Amy playfully complained. "And, I certainly don't act like that either."

"True. You don't." She nodded. "But, you also don't have any idea how Andrew interpreted your text either. How he perceived your intent."

"I guess that's true." She conceded.

Alicia cleared her throat again, then read Andrew's text in a low voice, puffing out her chest, swinging her shoulders back and forth as though she was strutting. "Luck. But, Amy, you don't need it. You do great things on your own accord." She blew Amy an air kiss.

Amy rolled her eyes.

Her voice got even higher, flirtier as she grinned a cheesy grin. "Smiley Face!"

Amy laughed. "You are a terrible impersonator."

"Well, I guess I missed that class in medical school."

Alicia scrolled down, she lowered her voice, imitating Andrew. "Hey Amy. Are you awake?" She raised her eyebrows several times making them both laugh. "Wait! He sent this at 11pm. And you called him back at what, 11:01?"

"So?"

She smirked, before returning her attention back to the phone, scrolling down a bit more. Bringing it closer to her face, she scrutinized the screen. Her eyes raised over the phone.

"Seriously Amy? You sent him this full body picture of you posing?" She shook her head in disbelief. "Why?"

"Well. He gave me those tennis shoes and sunglasses. We were talking about class. I was just showing him. You know, that I was wearing his gifts. It was nothing more than that, really." She tried to explain.

In her best Marilyn Monroe voice, she pretended to read another text. "Oh Andrew. Thought you'd like to see me in your tennies and wayfarers. I love how they feel on my body. Ooh la la. Love and kisses. Amy." She ran her tongue over her top lip.

"I did not write that! Give me that back!" She grabbed the phone.

"My bad, I ad libbed." She chuckled, then got serious. "So. I ask again. Are you back together?"

"No." She was adamant.

"Do you want to be?"

"No."

"Then, for goodness sakes, stop torturing the poor guy. Don't you see what you're doing?"

"I thought I was just being a friend, just being nice."

"Amy, of course, you're being nice. You're always nice. But, you're also getting his hopes up."

Amy sighed heavily. "So, what should I do? I wanna stay friends. I really do. We both do."

"If you really want Andrew as a friend instead of a boyfriend, you need to take some time away. Take a real break. Reset the boundaries."

"How? I don't want completely stop talking."

Alicia screwed up her lips as she thought. "Well, then. Stop initiating texts. When he sends one to you, slow your roll. Let some time pass before you respond. Be kind, but be short and not overly friendly. You don't need to tell him what you're wearing or not wearing. And, for god sakes, no more pictures of you. Absolutely none, zip, zilch."

She nodded. "Okay. I can do that."

"Second. Stop calling him. If he calls, fine. Keep it short, very short. Like 5 minutes or less. End it with, something like 'I got to getting going. Got tons of homework.'"

"That'll be the truth."

"Better yet. Let his call go to voicemail. You can call him back later when it's convenient. Don't drop everything to answer his call."

"That doesn't seem very friendly. I always answer my phone."

"Not any more. Amy. Your first priority is school. You'll be in class, in clinic, or studying. You don't need to immediately answer his texts or calls, or anyone's, okay?"

"Okay."

"Lastly. Cancel those plane tickets and hotel reservations."

"What?! No! I promised him that I would be there. That we would be there." Amy was firm.

"I didn't say we weren't going." Alicia replied calmly. "We're just not going on his dime. We're going to plan a girl trip. You and me. We'll each pay our own way. As friends do." She stressed.

"And, as a part of our plans, we will stop by the games watch Andrew compete. But, not from his reserved seats, not where all the cameras will be pointed, but from general admission. He can give his seats to someone else... may be his next girlfriend."

"But.."

"As your best friend, I'm just supporting your decision. You decided to move on. And, as Andrew's friend, I'm giving him the chance to move on too. He deserves that, you know."

"I know. You're right."

"Good."

"Promise me we'll see him compete." Amy pleaded, not willing to break her promise to Andrew. "I can go by myself if you don't want to go."

"Don't be silly. We will be there together. Promise. Why don't you give me all the tickets and stuff that Andrew gave you so I can make sure?"

Amy walked to the side table, opened the draw, pulled out the envelop containing the tickets and itinerary. She glanced at her name on the front, written in his hand. Smiled.

She turned back to the couch, handing her the envelop. "Here...Are you going to tell him?"

"Me? Nope. You are. But, we'll practice first. He'll try to change your mind."

"Do you think so?" She seemed surprised.

"Yes." She rolled her eyes. "You know, you really are better reading horses than people."

"I've been told that." She frowned as she sat down on the coffee table facing her.

"You just need more practice."

"I don't know. Humans are a lot of work."

"Yeah they are. Guys especially." Alicia laughed. "So. Mountains or beach?"

"What?"

"Our girl trip? Mountains or beach?"

"Beach."

"I was hoping you'd say that. North Carolina has a descent coast line with all sorts of beaches. I think we should skip the crowds and find quiet one. Maybe some kind of preserve or something. Or how about a spa? What do you think?"

"Either sounds good. After finals, I'll want something relaxing. Plus. There will be tons of people at the games."

"I'll pull together some ideas for us to consider." She sighed. "Moving on. Let's talk about your other guy issue."

"My laptop is in my bedroom. Let me get it."

When she returned, she sat next to Alicia, on her left, their backs propped against couch cushions, legs stretched on the coffee table. Norton burrowed in between them.

"Okay. Spill." Alicia said. "Start from the beginning."

"I saw Ty on campus this morning." She started.

"Wait! What?" Alicia startled, turned her entire body toward Amy.

"Yeah. I was walking to lab from the parking lot. He was driving his blue Ram truck down Crowchild."

"Are you sure? Bet there's hundreds of those trucks in Alberta alone."

"I'm sure."

"But.."

"Traffic was bad so he was moving real slow. And I was on the sidewalk, not more than 10 feet away. He looked right at me. I would know Ty anywhere. His eyes."

"Wow! Did he wave? Or pull over?"

"No, nothing. When traffic started moving again, he just kept on going."

"What did you do?"

"Nothing. What could I do? So I just went to class." She shrugged.

"Are you okay?"

"I was disappointed. I would have liked to talk. But. Well, it takes two. So." Her shoulders rose to her ears, then dropped as if weighed down with lead.

"Amy. I am so sorry."

"Yeah, me too." She chuckled sarcastically. "But, that wasn't all."

"What else happened?"

"I processed lab samples at Scott's this afternoon. That was really kinda cool."

"Dang. They're throwing you right into the deep end. Good for you. You're fortunate to have them as mentors."

"Yeah. I am. Anyhow. Cass gave me a blue lab coat to wear that she found packed away in a box in the back. Turns out, it was Ty's."

"Really? You sure?"

She shrugged. "He's the only one who wore a blue one there. He told me blue reminded him of my eyes."

"Did it smell like him?"

"Funny. But, no, it smelled of laundry detergent. And nothing in the pockets either. I checked."

"I would have checked too."

"Scott confirmed it was his...He also told me that Ty wrote him a letter. After he left."

"Really? What did it say?"

"He didn't show me the letter. Scott said he wrote that we had broken up, that he wasn't returning to Hudson because I requested that."

"Had you?"

"Not exactly. I texted him not to contact me or my family."

"It's a small town. You didn't leave him much choice."

"Guess not."

"I showed him the clip from the conference where Ty thanked him."

"Oh?"

"Scott missed it. Apparently, being on stage made him nauseous so he went outside to get fresh air. He didn't even know that Ty was there at the conference."

"Scott did look uncomfortable up there on stage. Poor guy. He's so shy."

"Yeah. But, he's a really good guy. Alicia..." Amy raised an brow, hinting.

"Don't even go there. Scott is great and all. He'll make someone the perfect mate... but, there's no chemistry between us. I want that instant spark."

"Get that." She sighed. "I had that once."

"Want to talk about the video?"

She nodded as she opened the laptop, its bright screen reflecting on their faces. Pressing play, the video started, sans sound. Ty stood next to Dr. Steele behind the podium, rap in conversation.

"Ty is so...amazing on that stage. Isn't he? So well spoken, confident, so accomplished. He's so.." She as she watched.

"Different? Grown up?"

"Yeah." She added. "And, even more handsome."

"Yeah. From everything you told me, I just didn't expect that he would be so...articulate."

"I know. Look at him. He's obviously doing what he loves." A soft smile played on her lips. "And, he's happy. And, I'm happy for him."

"He does seem to be in his element." Alicia remarked, glancing at her left. "Clearly, you left a big impression on him."

Amy scoffed, not looking away from the screen. "Yeah. So much so that he kept on driving."

"Maybe it wasn't him driving. Maybe you just.."

Amy cut her off. "It was Ty. I know it was."

"Okay then. So what's eating you then?"

"The girlfriend. She's really beautiful, isn't she? And, she's a vet to boot."

"She wasn't that good looking." Alicia attempted to dissuade.

Amy smirked. "What video did you watch?"

"You're not jealous, are you?" She cut her eyes at her.

"Actually, its not that he has a girlfriend. I assumed as much. I mean, I moved on too." Her words belied her expression. "It's that her name is Claire."

"You don't like the name Claire?" She replied, a bit confused.

"That night, when Ty didn't come home. When he went to Nova Scotia instead. Dad kept saying that Ty hooked up with another Blaire."

"Blaire. The girl that Ty brought home from his wild oat sowing trip? Right?"

"Right. I just figured that dad was being dad. He never forgave Ty for that.."

"Wait. Do you think Claire answered when you called him in Nova Scotia?" Finally understanding Amy's line of thinking.

"It's a strange coincidence, I know. Don't you think?"

"Seems a little far fetched to me. More importantly, does it really matter Amy? Like you said, you've moved on."

"But, what if she was the one? What if she was the reason? What if she was there? I need to know."

"Why?"

"I just do." She said quietly. "Will you help me?"

"I don't think that's a good idea."

"Please?"

The two friends locked eyes.

"It's important Alicia." Amy added.

"Tell me why?"

She shrugged. "I have always wondered..."

"Wondered what?"

"Whether I was too.." She shrugged. "..hasty in breaking things off. What if dad got in my head? What if I jumped to conclusions? What if I made a mistake? I mean, why did Ghost show up? He only shows up when Ty is in trouble."

"Amy. He didn't come home. Not once." She reminded her.

"I know." She sighed. "Alicia. I loved him with my whole being. Now all these years later, these stupid signs...I just need to know. Settle it once and for all."

"I don't know..." Alicia hesitated.

"Please?" Amy implored her, pleaded. "Help me."

She expelled a heavy breath.

"Please?"

"Fine." She relented. "How?"

"Maybe we could look her up. Like on Facebook? Or something?"

"We could, if she's on it and if it's unblocked." She wrinkled her nose. "Still. Seems a little stalkerish to me."

"Maybe. What do you suggest?"

"Well. There's probably some kind of a licensure board for veterinarians, just like there is for medical doctors. If there is, we start there. Find out when she got her license."

Amy pressed rewind on the video. "She said her full name."

"Well. We need that to start. Maybe we can find out where she went to school, when she graduated. Maybe where she works."

"Maybe she was in vet school with him. That would explain why he never came.." She stopped, swallowed hard.

"Amy." Alicia touched her knee.

"I just.." She looked Alicia with misty eyes. "I was just so stupid. You know. I wanted to marry him. I gave myself to him. And, then."

"That was a long time ago. You've moved on."

She nodded, then pressed Play.

"Hello Everyone. I'm Dr. Claire Russell. I'm Ty's girlfriend. He's had to step out." Amy pressed Pause. Frozen on the screen was Claire's smiling face, her eyes partially closed.

"Claire Russell. Okay. Let's do a search. Type in veterinarian licensure in Canada." Alicia instructed.

"Bingo. The Canadian Veterinary Medical Association." Amy clicked on the link.

"Looks like each providence has their own association."

"Let's look at the B.C. first." She said, clicking on the link provided. "Okay. Here's the Online Registry." She typed in Ty's name and pressed Search.

"Hey. I thought we were looking for Claire?"

"Just wanted to see." She leaned in as she read from the website. "Specialty Private Practice, Full License 2015, Surgery and Wildlife Specialities, Vancouver Wildlife Rescue."

"Hmm. They even list the address and phone number of the rescue." Alicia commented. "Let's look up Claire."

She did as instructed. "Huh. No results."

"Try just her last name.. one L. And, leave the first name blank."

The search returned 3 names. "She's not there." Amy frowned.

"Let's try the other providences."

Twenty minutes later, they still hadn't found her name on any association registry. "Last one. Nova Scotia. Here goes nothing." Amy typed in her last name with one L, pressed Search.

She was first on the list, Claire Russell, Full license 2015. Everything else was blank.

"That isn't very helpful." Alicia said.

"Well. They graduated the same year. She is licensed in Nova Scotia."

"That doesn't mean anything."

On a whim, Amy typed, Claire Russell Nova Scotia Vet, into the search bar, then pressed Search.

They both stared at the results. 'St. Mary's Bay Vet Works With Vets Without Borders' article was first on the list.

"What do you think? Should we read it?" Amy asked, but clicked on the link before Alicia could reply.

The color image of a laughing Claire, her mocha skin, long hair of tight ringlets, her shiny dark eyes, filled the screen capturing their full attention.

"God. She's perfect." Amy muttered unable to look away.

"We don't have to read this."

"Let's get it over with." Though the corners of her mouth dropped, her voice was resolute.

"Are you sure?" Concerned, Alicia questioned her just the same.

"Yes. Positive." Amy did not waver.

Alicia offered. "Want me to read it aloud?"

Amy nodded.

"St. Mary's Bay Vet Works with Vets Without Borders. As a young girl, Claire Russell of St. Mary's Bay, dreamed of becoming a veterinarian traveling the world with Veterinarians Without Borders, caring for animals, big and small. After she earned her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) at the University of Guelph, Ontario Veterinary College in 2015, she did just that.

"During my last year at OVC, out of the blue, I was offered an externship with VWB. I jumped at the opportunity. My first mission was in Nova Scotia to follow up on sightings of the elusive Eastern Cougar."

Alicia glanced at Amy, still focused on the screen. "I am so sorry Amy."

She sighed, closing her eyes. "Keep reading."

"Are you sure?"

With her nod, she continued reading.

"When asked if she spotted the cougar, considered extinct by most conservationists, she laughed with a twinkle in her eye. "Not even a single paw print. A huge snowstorm blew in just as my partner and I got there, blanketing everything with a foot or more of snow. We tried for hours, trudging around in the freezing cold and snow, looking for leads and signs but it was fruitless. Despite it all, we had an incredible experience. For me, the hook was set."

"Amy?"

Eyes closed, she nodded. "Go ahead."

"Asked about her next assignment with VWB, she replied. "I am headed to Ethiopia. The goal is to train local dairy farmers and herdsmen how to spot the signs of disease early and respond swiftly with treatment. Not only will this improve the livestock health and milk production but also contribute to better human health, through improved nutrition and disease prevention."

"When asked about the living conditions and lack of running water in Ethiopia, Russell again laughed. "I prefer being outside in nature. Sleeping under the stars. Waking with the sun. Plus, I can skinny dip with the wildlife, human or animal, at the local water hole."

"Okay. That's enough." She whispered.

"Guys suck." Alicia put her arm around her shoulder, pulling her closer. "Come here."

Eyes still closed, lips pressed into a thin line, Amy was quiet and still. The two sat there for several minutes, lost in thought, saying nothing.

"You okay?" Alicia ventured.

Taking a deep breath in through her nose, she exhaled in a weary huff, then responded. "I'm good. And, I have my answer. I made the right call."

"I agree. You made the right call. Now. Forget about them."

"Forget about who?" A faint smile appeared than faded.

"Exactly."

Amy glanced at the time on the bottom tray of her laptop screen. "It's really late. Almost one. We should get to bed." She sat up, began the process to shutdown her computer.

"Agreed. Morning will be here before we know it."

"Alicia?"

"Yeah?"

"Thanks for coming. For always having my back. You're a true friend."

"Always."

Under the covers, in the still of dark, her back turned to her friend, Amy shed a single, silent tear.

After some time, exhausted, she fell into a deep, but fitful sleep. Waking in the early morning, well before Alicia, she quietly dressed then descended into the barn for morning chores with Simon.

Alicia was barely awake, nursing a cup of coffee in the kitchen, when Amy returned to the loft.

"Hey." Amy said, shucking her boots.

"Coffee?" Alicia offered, rising from the stool to get a cup from the cabinet, before Amy had the chance to respond.

"Please."

"How are you this morning?" She handed her a cup of steaming Joe.

"Good. You?" She took a sip. "Mmmm."

"Surprisingly well given the hour we got in bed. Your bed is really comfortable."

"You're welcome to stay over anytime. That side of the bed is destine to be empty for a very long time to come. I am swearing off men."

"I hear you sister. My bed is headed in the same direction." The two friends smiled at each other.

"What's on tap for you today?"

"The usual. Clinic. Book club tonight. You?"

"Busy. Biology at 8, followed by Chemistry, Stat, Botany, and English. Work with Silvie. Evening shift at Scott's. He says I can study there."

"Ouch. Long day."

"Yeah. And, only to be repeated every Monday, Wednesday and Friday for the rest of the summer. I'll be ready for that trip to the beach by the end." She took another sip of her coffee.

"I can't wait. Listen. Don't worry about a thing. I'll arrange everything."

"Thanks. That would be great. Surprise me."

Her morning eyes flew wide open. "Surprise you? What happened to my friend Amy Fleming? The one that hates surprises?"

"Turned over a new leaf. Can't control anything but myself."

"You don't say." She chuckled. "Now. Let me take a quick look at those stitches before I head home." She rinsed her cup in the sink then followed Amy into the bathroom.

Nearly two hours later, Amy jostled her way to her middle of the second row seat and sat down. Emma was already seated, laptop open, reviewing her notes.

"Hey." Amy said with a smile.

"Hey." She returned. "Ready for Parker?"

"As much as I'll ever be. You?"

"About the same." Emma giggled. "Want to see something funny?"

"Sure. I could use a good laugh."

"Take a look." She pointed to her feet. On one foot was a pink high top sneaker. In the other was the same shoe in blue. "Ridiculous, huh? I got dressed in the dark." She grimaced.

Amy smiled at her new friend. "You are on the cutting edge of fashion, no doubt."

Emma tilted her head back and laughed. "Hardly!"

Suddenly, the resemblance was clear, she froze, the color drained from her face.

Noticing, she stopped mild-laugh, grew concerned. "Are you okay? Are you going to be sick?"

Amy shook her head, offered a faint smile. "No, no. I'm fine. Um. Did you know that you have a doppelgänger?" Amy ventured.

"Supposedly we all do. Who's mine?"

"It's probably nothing. Um. There's this vet from St. Mary's Bay. Her name is Claire Russell?"

Emma laughed. "That's my cousin! How do you know her?"

"Oh. Ah. I don't really. I read an article about her working for Vets Without Borders."

"Crazy. Small.."

"Attention Class. Silence." His commanding voice pierced the murmur of the room, rendering it silent. Dr. Parker stood rigid behind the podium. "First question. Ms. Fleming..."

At the days end, Amy laid in bed, Norton by her side, eyes staring at the ceiling. Though physically and mentally exhausted from the day, she was restless, too keyed up to sleep as thoughts of Ty and Claire kept playing over and over in her head.

Giving up on the prospect of sleep, she sat straight up, turned on the light on the nightstand. She spied her laptop, it's lid closed, it's power off. She considered it for a minute or two.

Sighing heavily, she muttered to herself, reaching for it. Turning it on, she patiently waited for the screen to come to life. From her favorites, she found the link to the Vet Conference. She hesitated for just a second, finger poised above the mouse button, clicking to delete it, then clearing the cache for good measure. Satisfied, she shutdown her laptop.

Next, she retrieved her phone, found Alicia's text with the URL, deleted it, then cleared the cache there too.

"Guess that's that." She looked around her bedroom with a critical eye. Opening the drawer in her night stand, the two velvet boxes stared back at her.

Rising from her bed, Amy strode purposefully to the closet, found an empty box. Quickly she began filling it with things that reminded her of Ty. Last in the box were her engagement and promise rings, nestled on top of his old t-shirt. As she put the lid on top, the blue French perfume bottle sitting on the dresser caught her eye.

From the closet, she retrieved another box, filling it with things that Andrew had given her and things that he had left, including his toothbrush. Though she considered it, she opted to keep the backpack until she could replace it.

Putting on her boots, she carried the boxes into the dark to the Quonset hut, putting both on a dusty shelf, behind some old rusty barbed wire. Returning to the loft and to her bed, she fell into a peaceful sleep.

Hello Readers.

Hope you enjoyed this chapter, despite the setbacks and revelations.

SBR