by Rebecca York
“Bernie, bad boy, say thank you to Aidan. Go, say thank you,” Stella ordered.
The dog dropped the bone at her feet and trotted to Aidan to lick his hand.
“Aw, I think we’re BFFs now.” Aidan crouched again and caressed the loyal animal’s head.
“Wow, you certainly know how to make friends.” Melody offered him an appreciative smile.
“I’m not done. I came early enough to take you all out for dinner.”
“Can Bernie come?” Stella inquired.
“Yes, he can.”
“Can Pink Teddy come?”
“Of course.”
Melody burst out laughing. “First prize in achieving client satisfaction. We’ll have to take my car, though. You’re not equipped to drive a little girl and a big dog.”
“Who said so? Come and see.”
She narrowed her eyes but didn’t comment as she collected her jacket and Stella’s, and fastened a leash to Bernie’s collar. The dog refused to abandon his bone.
Aidan opened the back door and revealed a brand-new car seat for Stella and a protective blanket thrown over the back seat and floor for Bernie.
“Seriously, you’re amazing.” Still bemused, Melody grinned.
Aidan lifted Stella up, sat her in her car seat, and buckled her. “Bernie, up, up you go.”
The dog bounced into the car, sniffed the blanket, and lay on the floor, chewing his bone.
“Now, what were you saying, Melody? I heard something about amazing.” He held her shoulders and she sobered.
“You went out of your way for us.”
“Did I tell you I registered Stella at Kids with Us? She’s starting tomorrow.”
“Ah, but when should I pay—”
“I paid for two months. We’ll deal with the rest later.”
“I don’t know what to say. I really appreciate it, Aidan. Thank you.”
“How about thanking me the right way? With a hug or a kiss?” He pulled her into his arms and gave her a scorching kiss, but released her right away. Her driveway was not the place to unleash their passion. Besides, he wanted to take them to dinner and enjoy a couple of hours with Melody and Stella, hoping that Bernie would remain happily occupied with his bone.
“Let’s go.” She climbed into the passenger seat and he sat behind the wheel. “I found a fast food place not too far away where they welcome pets.”
Fifteen minutes later, they gathered around a table with their hamburgers, fries, and soft drinks in front of them, with milk for the little girl. Stella ate her meal as cleanly as possible with sips of milk. At her feet, Bernie ignored them to savor his bone.
Aidan smiled, realizing it was his first taste of family life. “You’re too quiet.”
Her eyelids lowered, Melody concentrated on her burger. “I’m treasuring the moment. I rarely have enough leisure time with my daughter.”
His hand covered hers. “I’m enjoying it too.” He bent and stole a quick kiss.
“Aidan, don’t, please. I can’t afford to flirt now. I’m at a difficult time in my life.” She twisted her lips.
“Because your neighbor is in the hospital and you’re without a babysitter.”
“That has certainly further complicated my already complicated life.”
“How is it complicated? Your family?”
She scoffed. “What family?” He frowned and tilted her head. “You wouldn’t understand, Aidan. You look like a accomplished guy who grew up in a good family. Am I right?”
“Yes. My mom is a nurse. My dad is a wonderful cardio surgeon, a heart transplant specialist. At home, all they talk about is hospital, patients, surgery, recovery, etcetera. My parents wanted their kids to be doctors.”
“And?”
“The four of us studied medicine. My older brother, Nathan, is an orthopedic surgeon. My sister, Sophia, is an ER doc, and our youngest sibling, Liam, is still in med school.”
“Impressive. Must be nice to grow up in a family that cares.” There was a disheartened curl to her lips.
“Did you go through family problems?”
“You can say that again. Since my birth.”
“Your birth?” he prompted, eager to learn more about her.
Her eyes darkened and her voice roughened. “I never learned what happened to my mother. I grew up with a woman I called ‘Mother,’ not Mommy or Mom. And she called me ‘You.’ ‘You, Melody, come here,’ ‘You’ do that or this. My father married Rachel two months after my birth. He needed someone to raise me, after my grandmother declared she couldn’t continue to take care of me. I learned all that on my fourteenth birthday.”
“Oh God.” Pain twitched his insides at the thought of the hell she must have endured. “Did they have other children?”
“Three. Ted, who was a year younger than me and made it his favorite pastime to tease me and hit me. Gina came three years later, and Jenna two years after her. I became their unofficial nanny, and later their maid. School time was the best time of the day for me. At home I had too much to do, helping Mother.”
“What about studying?”
“Never had time for that. I shared a room with Gina first and later Jenna. I tried to read after everyone slept, but the little ones insisted I turn off the lights. In grade school and middle school, I got by with doing homework during study periods at school.”
“How did you manage to become a nurse?”
She laughed, a bitter sound that tore at his heart. “When I was in eighth grade, my parents were called in for a conference. The teachers couldn’t understand why I never had time to do homework but managed a good placement in scholastic achievement tests where no preparation is needed. The principal insisted I should be given time to study. And the math teacher took me under her wing. That day, Rachel blew up at home, shouting that she did more than enough for me, a child who wasn’t even hers. I stopped calling her ‘Mother.’”
“I’m sorry, Melody, so sorry.” He squeezed her hand.
She shrugged. “Somehow, as I grew older, I got lucky. In high school, boys liked me. So I dated only smart ones who could help me with math and science. I managed to be accepted at nursing school. Dad was fed up with the continuous war at home and all too happy to send me away to live on campus. I never returned.”
His heart ached for her. “You were a smart girl, a self-made woman,” he said to show her his sympathy and admiration.
“Not really.” Melody shook her head, and glanced at Stella who was talking to her pink teddy. “I was naive enough to trust a resident who said he loved me. Stupid enough to get pregnant. When I told him, he gave me money for an abortion. He wasn’t ready to settle down yet and mess up his future. I took the money, changed jobs, and kept my baby. I badly needed someone to love. Someone who loves me. Never regretted my decision.”
“Stella is adorable. And you’re a wonderf—”
“No compliments, please. They don’t work on me. And it’s getting late. We have to go.”
Aidan exhaled. She had to go to her damned restaurant. No need to try to talk her out of her evening job when he’d deprived her of an increase, and she badly needed a second income.
“Can I stay with Stella until you come back?”
“She’ll be asleep with Bernie next to her.”
“I know. I’ll stay in the living room. I won’t disturb them.”
“Thank you. But make sure you don’t wake her up.”
***
To Aidan’s delight, Melody arrived five minutes ahead of time the next day, looking fresh and relaxed. She greeted her colleagues with a confident smile, clocked in, and faced Aidan. “I think we’re in surgery in half an hour.”
“Exactly. A special surgery. Follow me to my office. I have specific instructions.”
“Yes, Dr. Olson.” Although most of his staff called him by his first name, Melody persisted in being formal at work.
“Did you take Stella to her new daycare?” he blurted as soon as they were out of earshot.
/> Melody nodded.
“How did it go?”
“Piece of cake. We were there at seven-thirty. Her teacher talked to Stella, took her to her class, and showed her a few toys. Stella looked delighted. And I was here on time. Even early. Can’t thank you enough.”
“So happy I could help. If today’s surgery doesn’t take too long, I’d like to visit Alicia before you pick up Stella.”
“No problem. She’s at the rehab center, on the fifth floor of St. Elm Hospital.”
“Thanks, Melody. See you in the OR soon.”
She left him to prep their patient for surgery, and Aidan stopped by his office to read the patient file and his own notes about the case one more time. A fifty-year-old man almost doubled over with horrendous back problems, who needed surgery on his spinal column.
Fifteen minutes later, Aidan scrubbed and met his team in the OR The surgery lasted four hours. In Recovery, he caught Melody stifling a few yawns. She was exhausted. Not surprising with two hectic jobs. Her effort to listen to his instructions stabbed him with guilt. He hoped he could give her a well-deserved increase in a couple of weeks and insist she quit waitressing.
“You look tired. Would you like to postpone the visit to Alicia till tomorrow?”
“No, let’s go today. I need a cup of coffee and something to eat now, then I’ll feel great. I’ll see you in the parking lot in thirty minutes.”
She met him after lunch, climbed into his SUV and dozed as soon as he started the engine. He let her nap during the twenty-minutes ride. When he slowed down and parked the car at St. Elm Hospital, she stirred and surveyed her surroundings.
“Oh, sorry. I didn’t mean to be so rude.”
“Glad you were able to rest for a few minutes. You needed it.”
“I’m okay now.” She smiled ruefully, looking refreshed by her short doze.
Alicia Loren hugged Melody. “So happy you came, my dear girl. I’d just returned from my therapy session when you knocked.”
“Alicia, meet my boss, Dr. Aidan Olson, who wanted to visit with you.”
Aidan approached the bed and shook the patient’s hand. Why had he imagined that Alicia Loren was a woman in her seventies or older? At close proximity, he realized she mustn’t be more than fifty-five or sixty. A tired patient, probably exhausted by the effort of her therapy and weak health.
“Glad to meet you, Dr. Olson. I heard so much about you for so long.” She sounded very rational, a woman in control, assessing him coolly. At least her fall hadn’t affected her mental faculties.
“I bet Melody complained a lot about me.” He chuckled.
Melody blushed. “I never complained, and I never talked about work at home.”
“She didn’t have to.” Alicia grinned with an understanding nod. “I could guess by her expression when she had a bad day or a good one. Before my stupid fall, I was taking care of Stella. I raised that little pumpkin. She’s the granddaughter of my heart.”
“I know you helped Melody and Stella a lot.” Aidan shifted his approving gaze from Melody to Alicia. “How are you feeling now?”
“Tired. All this therapy is exhausting me. But I want to go home as soon as possible and take care of Stella again. Poor baby, she must feel abandoned in that daycare.”
Aidan was pretty sure Stella would have a great day at her new daycare, but he abstained from comments and concentrated on the patient. “Did your doctor say how long he planned to keep you?”
“He didn’t say. No one tells me anything. They keep doing more and more tests.”
A knock on the door interrupted her and a doctor entered. “Hello, Alicia.”
Alicia turned her head to the door. “Hi, Dr. Carter.”
“How are you feeling today?”
“Tired, huh...I mean, better,” she added quickly. “I want to go home. You met Melody. And here is Dr. Olson, her boss. Dr. Carter is my general practitioner.”
Aidan shook hands with Dr. Carter.
“You seem out of breath.” Dr. Carter pulled out his stethoscope and listened to Alicia’s heart, then held her wrist and took her pulse. “Your pulse is too weak. And your nurse told me your BP is too high. I’m going to order—”
“Don’t bother. They already did an ECD and angiogram.”
“Is something wrong with her heart?” Aidan asked.
“When Alicia fell, the hospital worked on her hip. But the report mentioned that her fall may have been caused by a stroke. We want to make sure she doesn’t have a relapse.”
“Maybe we should check her head, do an MRI,” Aidan suggested and added, “I’m a neurosurgeon.”
“We’ll keep it in mind. I’ll come back tomorrow.” Dr. Carter left with a nod at Alicia’s guests.
“More tests? I’m fed up. Melody, tell them you can take care of me at home.” Alicia punched her bed. “Go, talk to him, Melody, please. I don’t want more tests.”
Melody nodded and stepped out of the room.
Alicia grabbed Aidan’s hand. “I received the hospital bills. Dozens of them. I’m running out of money to pay their exorbitant fees. Melody said not to worry, she’d pitch in.” The woman snorted. “Out of the question. She can hardly support herself and her daughter.”
Obviously, Melody hadn’t mentioned her evening job. “Maybe it’s time to fill in a request for welfare and Medicaid.”
“No way. I’m not poor. I grew up in a wealthy family.” Tears filled Alicia’s eyes, but she lifted her chin with pride. “Unfortunately, my husband gambled away all our assets,” she added in a desolate tone.
“Then Melody will continue to pay—”
“Continue? Don’t tell me she already paid some of my bills. How? I know what she makes as a nurse.”
Cursing his slip of the tongue, he glanced at the door and caught a glimpse of Melody still conversing with the GP.
“Don’t worry. She’s young. She knows what she’s doing.”
“Oh God, I hope she’s not working extra hours. I can’t let her do that. She’s already so busy with her hospital shifts. How does she manage with Stella in the evening?”
Aidan stroked Alicia’s hand gently. “Alicia, you’re not the first one to go through a reversal of fortune. You can’t afford to procrastinate any longer. You need insurance to cover all your medical expenses,” he added as Melody returned.
“Dr. Carter insists you need to have more tests.” She shook her head with a sigh. “They are big procedures.” Poor Melody, she must be mentally calculating how much she could afford to pay.
“Expensive ones.” Aidan pinned her with a concerned gaze. “But Medicaid would cover them.”
“Dr. Olson suggests I apply for welfare,” Alicia said with a hardly audible tone.
“Do you have a bank account?” He had to be sure she was eligible for some benefits before filing any application.
“It’s dry now.”
“Any property you own?”
She shook her head. “No, I’m renting the first floor of Melody’s duplex.”
“The duplex is yours, Melody?”
“My father left it to me when he died, seven years ago. Alicia moved there a few months later, and has been helping me better than a real mother.” Melody smiled at Alicia.
“Well, if you don’t have any assets, no properties, no savings, Alicia, you certainly can apply for welfare and Medicaid.”
“In that case, I want Dr. Carter to discharge me. We’ll talk about more tests when I have the new insurance.”
“It sounds reasonable. Should I file an application for you?” Melody chewed on her lip.
“Dr. Olson said I qualify. No savings, no property, no more money.” The old lady rubbed her chin, anxiety wrinkling her face. “Yes, fill out the application. I’ll sign it. I’ve got nothing to lose, right?”
She lowered her head, studying her blanket, and then exchanged glances with Melody, who averted her eyes.
Were they hiding something?
Chapter Five
Two d
ays later, Melody and Aidan returned to St. Elm rehab center at lunchtime to take Alicia home. She’d done her therapy thoroughly, several times a day, forced herself not to drag her feet or limp, and managed to convince Dr. Carter with her impressive progress that he could discharge her.
Melody stayed with her and helped her adjust to moving around with a walker. Aidan picked up Stella from daycare. The little girl was thrilled to find Nana Licia at home and spent a good hour telling her about her school while Melody prepared dinner. Bernie was allowed to visit during the early dinner they shared at their neighbor’s apartment.
“It’s your first day home. You shouldn’t exhaust yourself.” Melody assisted Alicia when she undressed and prepared for bed.
“Tell me, Melody, are you doing night shifts at the hospital?”
“No. Where did you get that idea?”
Alicia glared at her. “Then how did you get the funds to pay some of my bills?”
“Oh, that was nothing...”
“Melody!” her neighbor bellowed. “The truth. How d’you get the cash? Where are you working?”
Melody exhaled. “I’m replacing a woman on maternity leave at a restaurant for two months.”
“You, waitressing?” Alicia pointed a finger at Melody. “Oh no. Because of me. My poor little girl.” Alicia sniffed and sobbed. “I’ll never forgive myself...for all I put you through. I’m a horrible...horrible...”
“Calm down. That hospital stay made you a nervous wreck. All is well.” Melody hugged her, stroking her back, until the sobs subsided.
Finally, Alicia blew her nose and heaved a deep breath. “So, what about Stella when you’re not here at night?”
“At first she slept as usual with Bernie at her feet.”
“Oh my God, without me downstairs, in case something happened.”
Melody sighed. Couldn’t Alicia and Aidan accept the fact that Melody was stuck? Thank God nothing bad had happened to her dear little girl. “Well, when Aidan learned about it, he insisted on staying with them.”
