risk the baby’s life while ostensibly risking her own.
Violet would come to Alison’s defense, however, and soon there was a cadre of support that she didn’t know she needed, and when the managers and director of the department heard comments regarding the diagnosis and then, unbelievably, Alison’s sexuality, a selection of warnings and notices were handed out with threats of termination. Discrimination would not be tolerated from any employee, regardless of their level.
***
After Rich started his new job with Surfside Surgical, the couple began seeing each other again every day around the OR after a year’s absence, becoming their new routine.
The weeks flew by. When Rich had a case that his now third-year surgical resident wife scrubbed in on, others in the room said the sexual tension was palpable. Finally, Barry Lemon told them they needed to screw each other and give the rest of the staff a break.
“My wife is getting suspicious,” he said. “After I’ve worked with you two all day, I go home and want to jump her.”
Confused, Rich got defensive. “We don’t even speak to each other. I’ve had new employees tell me they had no idea we were married.”
“Maybe that’s the problem, then,” Barry said. “You’re communicating another way.”
Rich gave a hearty guffaw. “You’re so full of shit, Lemon,” he said good-naturedly.
Zoe King, soon to be Kovac, Ed’s fiancée, got in touch with Alison to extend an invitation to their wedding.
“I’m surprising Eddie,” Zoe said. “I hope you’ll come. Can you give me the numbers of the other roommates?”
“How wonderful, Zoe. Thank you so much for inviting us. Of course I’ll send you the numbers. I can even contact them if you’d like. Just give me the information.”
“It’s spur of the moment,” Zoe said. “My dad is not doing well. Dr. Mortimer gave him so much more time, and I’m so grateful for that.”
They talked for five minutes, and suddenly, Alison wanted to tell Zoe the story of her life, beginning with her transgender identity, which was becoming more fluid as the days passed, to the diagnosis of cervical cancer, to the pregnancy. Zoe listened and shed tears with Alison.
“How exciting that you’re going to have a baby! I don’t know how you doctors do it, how you go through all the schooling and the responsibility and then take the time to have a family. It’s amazing to me. The desire to have your own family must be so powerful.”
“Ed must have told you about my sexuality,” Alison said.
“He never said a word to me. He said you both shared secrets that he’d never reveal, and I respected him for that. He loves you like the best friend a guy could ever have, Alison. And he respects you, too.”
They chatted about that, and then Zoe felt led to tell Alison that she had been homeless and it was how she’d met Eddie, when he was taking care of her partner Devil John’s maggot-infested foot wound.
The women bonded in their shared sad stories, a bond that would solidify as time marched on. Then the wedding invitation came.
“Are you sure you want to go?” Rich asked.
“I do. I want to go more for Zoe. I can’t explain it, but she’s important because she healed the rift between Ed and me. I want you to come, too, though, if you don’t mind. Plus she’s so grateful to you for saving her father’s life.”
“Alison, I didn’t save the man’s life. He has terminal cancer. All I did was take care of a bowel obstruction.”
“Well, she doesn’t look at it quite like that. She was estranged from him, and you gave her time to make things right with her father. It means a lot to her. Anyway, you don’t have to go. But she’s planning a surprise for Ed and inviting all the girls. It’ll be a chance for you to spend time with them, as well.”
“Okay, I’ll go along to LA. We can make a weekend of it before the baby comes.”
“Nice! Now to find something to squeeze my gigantic body into that’s appropriate for a wedding. I think I’ll ask my mother to get me something.”
Rich put his hand to his chest. “I’m stunned!”
“Oh, knock it off.”
“Do you realize what it will mean to your mother?”
“Yeah, yeah. She likes shopping for me. But you have to remember it’s only been for the past couple of years that she finally stopped trying to dress me like I was a Barbie Doll.”
“What made her change?”
“I really don’t know. Maybe that