Midwife Jeannie, Nurse Julie, and NP Poppy

"Who...who should I know about?" you ask Maggie. "Does this have anything to do with Cara and Julie?"

The Nursing Director laughs. "Those poor girls," she says. "Indirectly, I suppose," she says. "To put it in words, Gloria, there is a connection among the lesbian encounters among the nursing staff." She takes a breath and steps back. "We're still a small town hospital, in many ways. There have always been women on staff who were that way. A right little nest of them in Labor and Delivery, for a long time."

Julie had come out of Labor and Delivery to work Orthopedics.

Maggie continues, "But everything very quiet. Things started changing when we ended up using more contract nurses. Free spirits of every sort, many of them." She laughs. "More excitement than we're used to. But when having lesbians and sexually liberated women working on contract for the hospital wasn't a scandal, it brought a few of the sisterhood out of the closet."

You love Maggie's voice, that little Scottish lilt after two decades in Middle America.

"So the board decided to modernize its act," Maggie says. "Partly in good ways. Or I think so. Bringing in Brenda Box -- a bit of a gamble, that one -- from being a fundraiser to coordinating our nursing intern and volunteer program. Partly in less good ways."

"Gina," you say.

"Gina," Maggie says. "She needs to move back to a big city, where she'll find space for her ambitions. Now, as to you, Gloria."

You stiffen with worry.

Maggie laughs. "No, no," she says. "You are my best nurse. But from what you've told me, we do need to find you a new position. Maybe just for a few months." She takes your hand and gives you a reassuring squeeze. "All right?" She smiles.

You catch the scent of Maggie's lover on her face again.

"All right, Maggie," you say. "What were you thinking about?"

"That's the way, Gloria," she says. "Well, I have three ideas for you. If you'd like to stay in a hospital environment, my suggestion is the birthing center. They have the best-established lesbian community. But they run at a different pace than you're used to, so it might not be your cup of tea. The timing is good, though, if you want to take over for Jeannie Goodchild. She'll be off-shift for maternity leave."

You say, "That's hard to believe. Obstetrics? Labor and Delivery? Lesbian enclaves?"

Maggie grins. "Always have been," she says. "A minority, to be sure, but a rather active one. Talk with Jeannie if you're interested. By the way, she is, of course, an active member of that sapphic sisterhood."

You nod. "Second?"

"We'll be doing some reorganization of the nursing intern program," Maggie says. "Brenda will be stepping back from day to day work with the participants, and will be concentrating more on funding and publicity. That will leave an opening for recruiting and orientation work. I've seen you bring up many a young nurse. Ms. Paul gave me a strong recommendation on your behalf."

Julie.

"I'd actually like to put you both into the program," Maggie says. "You can keep an eye on each other among all those sweet young things." She laughs.

You blush. Maggie is trying to fix you up with Julie, now that Cara is gone. Cara left the nursing intern program after her injury. She was between my legs, Julie had said. Before Julie's car had rolled down the hill.

"If the intern program is the way you want to go, talk it over with Julie Paul, and I'll set it up with Brenda," Maggie says. "Recruiting, training, orientation. Developing good attitudes and practices in young nurses."

You nod. "You said there was a third?"

"You know the mobile outreach clinic?" Maggie says. You nod. She continues, "The head nurse has taken a contract term to winter over in Antarctica. You know, the southern winter. So for six months, they'll be shorthanded. She's already gone, in fact."

The mobile clinic. Health education. Screenings and prevention. Immunizations. Dispensing birth control. Sometimes they'd set up at a church, or a school, or at the Grange or the Daughters of Pomona hall.

Maggie says, "It'll get you out and around, certainly. It's a joint program with the university. They've sent along a nice young N.P., Ms. Broadback. Poppy Peaceflower Broadback, if I recall correctly. I've actually met her. I ran into her at The Crater, near campus."

Even you know The Crater is a lesbian bar.

Maggie continues. "She's cheerful and full of fun, but, well, she's from out West. Feeling a little lost, away from her girlfriend. She might benefit from some local guidance, especially since you'll be out in the country. Longer shifts, but you've been pulling plenty of double shifts already."

"All right, third, the mobile clinic," you say.

"As of next week, you're on two weeks' paid leave," Maggie says. "I want you to use that time to find your next position. Let me know who you'd like to speak with, and I'll set up times for us to meet with them."

Maggie wants to be there too.

"Is it possible to see them sooner?" you ask.

"I can see. It might even be possible to get in touch today," Maggie says.

"And if none of those work out?" you say.

Maggie licks her lips. "We'll work something out," she says.

You feel a warm flush work its way from your forehead down to your chest.

"How long have you been...?" you say.

"A lesbian?" Maggie says. "Half my life. Do you remember who hired me?"

"Dorothy...Dorothea Stern?"

"My first lover," Maggie says. "I owe her, well, everything, really."

"But she was married," you protest. "Is." Her husband, Dr. Stern. They had both retired ten years back, and you'd heard they were traveling the world. They had twin daughters, both doctors, up in Chicago and Minneapolis now.

"Married? So are you, Gloria," Maggie says. "So are you." She steps closer. "Did you have any questions?" she says, her breath on your cheek. Your nose tingles again. Cunt. Who is Maggie's lover? you wonder.

Truth: on a 10+, Maggie Baxter tells you about three girls she'd like to see you fuck:

• Jeannie Goodchild at the Birth Center, due for her own maternity leave soon.
• Nurse Julie Paul, currently under your supervision, to work on the nursing intern program.
• Poppy Peaceflower Broadback, a young nurse practitioner working on the mobile medical outreach program.

Take +1 Forward vs. these.

Next move?

• STALK Jeannie, Julie, or Poppy: Roll +Cool (+1) (+0 Cool, +1 Truth). On a 7-9, Maggie will insist on being present.
• TRUTH: Ask Maggie who her lover is. Roll +Cool(0).
• TELL HER: Tell Maggie you want her. Roll +Hot(+2) (+1 Hot, +1 Lesbian).
• Something else?

You have +1 Hard, +1 Hot, +0 Cool, -1 Control, Lesbian, and Truth.