Chapter Text
They have been living in their happy “everything is good”- bubble for four weeks now. Many kisses, hot sex and lots of catching up about the last three years.
Maya told Carina everything about how she continued to go and is still going to therapy, how happy she was seeing her mother becoming her own person after divorcing her dad. And how she never spoke to her father again. Her therapist had suggested writing a letter to him if she didn’t feel able to talk to him, but Maya was done. He messed her up emotionally and made her risk losing the love of life. He never was a father figure so she thought it was best for her to cut the ties completely. She had also tried to find Mason but without success. And with a heavy heart she needed to accept his decision to cut her off. If he ever wanted her back in his life, she would be more than happy, but she was not going to push it. She had learnt from her mistakes. She also told her about she finally was the captain she always wanted to be. Respected by her team but still being able to be friends with most of them. How she and Andy were closer than ever and how thankful she was, that she went and contacted Carina to help her.
Carina on the other hand explained her everything about her new job in the small hospital and how she loved her house and the countryside and that everything felt more personal. Her neighbors knew her by name and she knew everyone living nearby. She told her that going to home-births was one thing she never thought she would like at all, but getting to know the new moms in their own homes was a whole ‘nother experience. She also talked about Andrea and how much she misses him, but that she also remembered their good times more often and that this was one achievement she got from her therapy, to realize that Andrea was not her father. They had the same illness, but other than that they had nearly nothing else in common.
They talked about their breakup as well and Carina explained again why it was the only way for her in that situation to leave Maya and Seattle behind. To start over. And Maya had to admit that although it was the hardest time in her life it made her a better person at the end.
They enjoyed the nearby beach, went on hikes and also visited LA one time. Carina was back to work a few days after Maya arrived, but she cut her hours to spend more time with Maya. When Carina was at the hospital Maya took care of the house and Betty. She also worked on the mobility of her arm with the local physical therapist, but it still wasn´t right. The nerve was damaged and she didn’t know if it was ever going to be completely healed.
At the beginning the plan was for Maya to stay for six weeks to let her body and mind rest.
The house looked like Maya had moved in. Andy and Robert visited them at their second weekend together and brought Maya more of her clothes and stuff. Carina has emptied an entire closet for her and it was like the two of them were living in Carinas house for long time. Carina loved to see Mayas items all over her place. Betty still loved Maya like on day one. They had a weird connection Carina could not understand. Although Maya had a strict tone with Betty once in a while when she did something Maya didn´t like, the dog always came back to her and chose Maya over Carina at more evenings than she could count.
Four of the six weeks has passed by know and they still haven´t discussed how to go on from this point. This was the one topic both of them were avoiding till this particular evening.
After they had dinner, they sat on the bench at Carinas porch and looked at the stars like they did most evenings. Carina took Mayas hand and brushed her thumb softly over the top of it. She knew this was going to be hard, but she needed to know where she stands, so without looking at Maya she asked “Bella, what are you going to do, when the six weeks of you staying here are over? What are we going to do with us?”
“I´ve been thinking a lot about this” Maya answered “I have to go back to Seattle.”
And Carinas eyes filled with tears.
“Please don´t cry” she said softly, as she wiped away a tear rolling down Carinas cheek “I need to have a specialist fix the nerve in my arm. I tried to be patient, but Carina, I need my arm. If I want to be able to give everything in my job, I definitely need my arm with full functionality. And then, when we find a new position for you in Seattle, maybe a smaller hospital since you seem to like this much more, we can go apartment hunting. Think about it, our first real apartment for us together. I was thinking about something near a park or something for Betty to have enough space to run and stuff. I think this will be great.”
Both sat there in silence for a while. Maya who was happy that she had finally presented her plan to Carina about how she thought they should go from there, and Carina who was wondering if Maya had listened to a single word she told her in the last weeks. She was disappointed and she was getting really mad. After what seemed like hours all she could say:
“Maya what the hell are you talking about? I´m not going back to Seattle!”
With that she got up and went inside. She slammed the door and left a speechless Maya alone in the dark.