50. Gertrude

50

GERTRUDE

G ertrude leaned over Rob and kissed his forehead. "I'm only going to make a quick phone call, and I'll be right back."

He tilted his head to look at her with curiosity in his eyes, but he didn't ask why she needed privacy for her call. "Can you get me fresh coffee from the vending machine? A big cup. Just pretend that it's yours if you bump into Bridget."

She laughed. "I'll see about that."

"Please?" He looked at her with a puppy-dog expression.

"Oh, that's not fair. Fine."

On her way out, she passed by Margo, who'd taken a seat in the waiting room to make phone calls to everyone she wanted to invite to her brother's testing ceremony.

"You seem so sure that he's not going to slip back," Gertrude said .

Margo lifted her head. "I know he won't. You should realize by now how stubborn Rob is. If he decided that he's done, he's done."

"Yeah, you're right."

In this case, Rob's stubbornness was a good thing, but it hadn't served him well in others. It was what had kept him with Lynda because he hadn't been willing to admit that he'd made a mistake in his choice of life partner and had stubbornly clung to a made-up notion of her.

Stepping outside the clinic, Gertrude headed toward the vending machines in the back of the café. She needed to talk to Hildegard about their living arrangements, and she didn't want to do that in front of Rob in case the conversation got unpleasant.

It wasn't that she really expected that from Hildy, but people often reacted in strange ways to unexpected changes, although her friend should have seen this one coming.

The vending machines stood below the canopy of a large tree, and since the small building housing the café proper was in front of them, they were always in the shade. It was nice in the summer, but quite chilly in the winter, and Gertrude had only her scrubs on. However, it was much more private in the back of the café than in the front, so it was worth the slight discomfort.

Leaning against one of the machines, she placed the call .

"Good news?" Hildegard answered right away, and given the background noises, she was driving.

"Yes. Rob is awake, and if he manages to stay that way for another hour, Bridget is going to run the test."

"Congratulations! That's wonderful! Are you bringing him home after Bridget clears him?"

Leave it to Hildegard to get straight to the point.

"Yes. That's what I wanted to talk to you about."

"No worries. I've already spoken with Ingrid about finding another place."

Gertrude felt her heart squeeze. "What? No, I don't want you to move out. I was calling to ask if you're okay with Rob moving in with us."

Hildegard laughed. "Oh, Gertie. I'm not going to stand in the way of true love. Besides, Ingrid told me that Catrina, Peter's mother, is looking for a roommate, and I've already called her. She was very excited to hear that I needed a new roommate as well, and we decided to move in together."

Despite it being good news, Gertrude felt a pang of sadness. She didn't want to part with Hildegard.

"Maybe you should meet her first?" Gertrude suggested. "Make sure you two get along?"

"Oh, I know Catrina well from back when I still lived in Scotland," Hildegard said dismissively. "We'll be fine. And you and Rob can have the house to yourselves. "

Tears pricked at Gertrude's eyes. She and Hildegard had been roommates for so many years, sharing everything from late-night conversations to studying nursing together and working in the same hospital, until Bridget asked them to work in the keep's clinic and then in the village. "I'm going to miss you."

"Don't get sentimental on me." Hildegard's voice softened. "You can visit me anytime, and Catrina and I would love to be invited to dinner from time to time."

Gertrude wiped at her eyes. "Thank you for making it so easy and so hard on me at the same time."

"You're welcome." Hildegard sighed. "Change happens, Gertie, and this time it's for the better. Sooner or later, I will find my truelove mate as well, and then Catrina will have to look for a new roommate. That's how it's supposed to be."

"I guess." Gertrude shifted so she was leaning on her other side. "Where are you off to?"

"The keep. The new Avengers unit is going out tonight, and they'll be bringing prisoners back for interrogation. In case anyone needs mending, I'm stationed there today and tomorrow. Julian is on call."

It must be serious if they needed healers, but Gertrude knew better than to ask for details. "Then I guess I will see you tomorrow? "

"Of course. I need to pack my things and clean out my room."

"There really is no rush. Rob and I only need one bedroom."

"I know, darling. Give kisses to Rob from me and tell him that I will personally welcome him to the clan tomorrow."

"I will. And thank you again."

"No need to thank me. Kisses." Hildegard ended the call.

With a sigh that was bittersweet, Gertrude pulled out her charge card from her pocket, inserted it into the machine, and chose the largest coffee it offered. Rob liked it with cream and no sugar, so she selected that, and once the machine was done brewing, she collected the cup, put the lid over it, and headed back to the clinic.

When she entered Rob's room, she caught him fighting to keep his eyes open. "My savior!" He extended his arm. "Come to revive me with the heavenly brew."

Chuckling, she handed him the cup. "Careful. It's hot." She hopped up on the bed to sit next to him. "I spoke with Hildegard, and she's moving out as early as tomorrow. Tonight, she's in the keep."

He frowned. "Why? I don't want her to feel as if she has to go because I'm moving in. The two of us can look for a place of our own."

"What's the difference?" she asked .

"The difference is that she wouldn't have to pack, and we will get a fresh start."

Gertrude let out a breath. "Moving to another house would be more difficult for me because of my herb garden. Hildegard would have let me keep it, of course, but it's an added level of complexity. Besides, Hildy has already spoken with Ingrid, and she's also found a new roommate. Peter's mother decided to stay in the village, and the two of them are moving in together."

"Good news," Margo walked in. "The whole gang is coming to witness the test. Mia and Toven, Negal, Frankie, Aru, Gabi, Jasmine, and Ell-rom. They are all on their way."

Gertrude glanced at her watch. "Did you check with Bridget? It hasn't been two hours yet."

"I did, and she's ready. We are only waiting for the gang to arrive."

Gertrude turned to Rob. "Is there anyone else you would like to invite?"

"Arwel and his mate, if Jin wants to come. William and Roni, if they can take a break from work."

"Right." Margo was already typing on her screen. "I forgot about them. Shame on me. I'm texting them to ask if they can make it."

A few moments passed until the replies arrived. "Jin is on her way, and the guys will rush over, and leave as soon as the test is done. There is some big mission going on, and they are all on high alert tonight."

That was probably the Avengers mission. Perhaps they expected complications and were keeping senior Guardians on alert.

Gertrude rushed to brush Rob's hair, give him a quick shave with the electric razor, and splash him with cologne, making it just in time before his friends began filing in.

Rob managed to look both pleased and overwhelmed by the attention, welcoming his guests and thanking them for coming.

A few minutes later, when William and Roni walked in, Bridget appeared with her ceremonial tray, a small knife gleaming under the fluorescent lights.

"Alright, everyone, find a spot where you can see. Who's filming?"

"I am," Mia said, holding up her phone.

"I'll time it." Margo pulled up the stopwatch app on hers.

Gertrude squeezed Rob's hand as Bridget approached the bed, and he squeezed hers back, his grip surprisingly strong so soon out of the first stage of his transition.

"Your left hand, please," Bridget instructed.

Rob extended his hand, and Gertrude felt his slight tension as Bridget positioned his palm upward .

"This will sting a little," the doctor warned, though they all knew what to expect. "Now."

The knife's edge was sharp enough that the initial cut barely registered, but Gertrude saw Rob's jaw tighten slightly as the pain bloomed. They all watched intently as blood welled in the shallow cut.

Almost immediately, the edges began knitting together. The healing was happening quickly, and they could all track its progress. In mere seconds, the wound closed, and a few seconds later, no trace was left of the cut.

"Twenty-eight seconds total," Margo announced triumphantly. "That's a fantastic time!"

A cheer went up from their assembled friends, and Rob's face broke into a wide smile as congratulations poured in from all sides.

"Welcome to immortality," Toven said formally.

Rob's grip on Gertrude's hand tightened. "Thank you all for coming and for making me feel so welcome."

"Alright, that's enough excitement," Bridget announced. "Our new immortal needs rest. You can all celebrate properly once he's recovered."

As Rob's friends filed out with final congratulations and good wishes, Gertrude leaned down to kiss his forehead. "You can sleep now. I'll be here when you wake up to take you home."

"Love you," he murmured, already drifting off.