Chapter 17.

                                    

                                          
The first week passed slowly. Joan and Kate had finally exchanged mobile numbers so they could keep in touch with each other through the night shift. 
                          
A few nights Joan returned home late to find Kate sleeping in her bed, other times her bed was empty and the lights across the road were out.
                          
Some night's she would come home for dinner after her shift ended. She would enjoy a brief visit with Kate for a few hours, and then return to the prison until the early hours of the morning.
                          
On the weekend Joan would spend her days going about her regular routines, ensuring she spent some time with Kate before going back to the prison for the hours she would spend with the inmate in solitary.
                          
Kate worried about how much sleep Joan was getting and what it was doing to her mental state which she thought was already compromised enough on a good day.
                          
Joan worried about how far she would have to go to get the results she was aiming for and how long it would take.
                          
Kate made dinner and placed leftovers in Joan's freezer, along with a fresh plate in the fridge for when she returned home, if nothing else at least she could make sure her lover ate a decent meal when she finally returned home.
                          
Joan appreciated the gesture more than she would ever be able to verbalize. With her black leather gloves on she picked a black-red rose in the moonlight and with ninja like stealth she placed it on Kate's doorstep. A thanks this time rather than an apology. 
                          
The text messages were short between the women, but meaningful.
                          
Joan genuinely missed Kate and the time they spent together, even though they still had time together during some evenings it just wasn't the same.
                          
Kate felt a peculiar loneliness without Joan's presence for dinner, wine and a sleepover every couple of nights, what they were living through just wasn't enough and Kate felt an ache deep in her heart. 
                          
It was a Thursday afternoon on the second week when Kate couldn't take it anymore. She looked up the number for the prison on her lunchbreak and dialed. Someone answered. She asked for the Governor. They asked her to hold. No hold music while the call was transferred. Another person answered. Again, she asked for the Governor. This time her name and reason for calling was requested. Tell her it's Kate. Joan answered immediately.
                          
"Kate? What's wrong?" Joan's voice was sharp with worry.
                          
"Nothing Joan," she lied. "Everything." Kate could feel herself about to burst into tears and took a breath to calm herself. "I have to see you, I miss you like crazy. Can I bring you dinner tonight?"
                          
"I won't be home until late." Joan was completely devoid of emotion as she spoke to Kate as though she was nothing more than a nosy neighbour. She had to be blunt, careless even, if she thought about the pain she felt of missing her lover she would be a mess and everyone at the prison would see her weakness like a shining beacon. It would be used against her, and she couldn't have that. 
                          
"I mean at the prison. Can I bring you dinner?" 
                          
"Oh." Joan was caught off guard, she hadn't even thought of it as a possibility, but in fact it was. And they would still be safe. And she would be able to simply dismiss any questions from staff as to who the woman is. "Yes, I believe that will be fine."
                          
Kate nearly cried from happiness but managed to hold it together with a small giggle. "Okay, what time?" 
                          
Joan ran over the roster in her head, when the shift changes were and what the movements of her staff would be like that evening. "Seven. We can have a vodka."