by Rebecca York
“Nobody. No one ever comes to visit. When she moved in downstairs, she was already a widow. She often curses her husband, a gambler she foolishly fell in love with many years ago. She can’t stand her father, who disinherited her because he said her husband would squander any money he gave her. And she also hates her only brother and her nephews, who stole her share of her father’s fortune. So, no trust in men.”
“She told me as much.”
“At the time, I agreed with her. Surprisingly, she approves of you.”
“What about her mother? Any sisters?”
“No sisters. Her mother has helped her. Not sure how.”
“What about her twin sons?”
“That’s a taboo subject. She mentioned them and the accident the day she moved in downstairs, telling me, ‘My heart died with them, but now I found you. You’ll be the daughter I so badly need. I’ll be your mother.’ I felt so bad for her, I said I’d be happy to be a daughter to her. It wasn’t difficult, considering I never had a real mother.”
“I’m sorry. I guess your mom died when you were a baby.”
Her face hardened and she averted her eyes. “That’s what I assumed when I learned that Rachel wasn’t my mother, but my stepmother. I think Dad forbade her to tell me the truth, but we had a huge fight before I left for college. I shouted at her, ‘I wish my mom never died. I wish Dad never married you.’”
“And?” he prompted, his eyes roaming over the stern line of her lips, the angry wrinkles tightening her forehead, and the air of despair shadowing her face.
“She gave me a nasty look and said, ‘Ungrateful girl, without me you wouldn’t have had any mother to raise you. Your mom delivered you and abandoned you to marry her fiancé. Your father was already dating me when he cheated on me with your mother. Unfortunately, he insisted on keeping her baby.” Melody stared straight ahead, her mind lost in the painful past.
“I’m so sorry, Melody.”
“I was nothing but a bad mistake for my mother and father. And Rachel made sure I paid for that mistake. I don’t know the name of the woman who gave birth to me and never heard from her.” Tears filled her eyes and rolled on her cheeks. “Why did you make me remember? Why did you open that wound again?” Her sobs shook her chest and broke his heart.
Why had he asked questions? “I’m sorry, Melody. So sorry,” he said again.
Wiping her eyes with the backs of her hands, she pushed her chair out and stood. “Go to hell, Aidan. I don’t need your sympathy. I’ve learned to survive and be happy on my own.”
He jumped from his chair and held her shoulders. “Melody, please forget my questions. I had no right to ask anything. I—”
“Stop it, Aidan. I’m going home. I have to hug my daughter.”
Regret twisted his insides. Yet he dropped his hands and let her go.
How had the situation degenerated so badly, so fast? He was gathering information about his patient. Why couldn’t he swallow his curiosity about Melody’s past?
Because he cared about her, damn it. And she’d trusted him enough to confide her deepest secrets that probably no one had heard before him. Maybe he should give her space, let her share some quality time with her daughter. Her only love.
Bitterness threatened to engulf him. Would she ever be able to relax again in his arms? Would he ever be able to bring her comfort and make her forget her past?
His heart heavy, he made his afternoon rounds, checking on his other patients, and then returned to Alicia.
At 5:00 p.m., she was comfortably settled against her pillows, the back of her bed elevated enough to allow her to eat a light dinner.
“How are you feeling, Alicia?”
“Good,” she answered, with no trace of nervousness in her smile.
“I’ve scheduled your surgery for two o’clock tomorrow. It will last about four hours.”
She nodded. “I’m sure you’ll do your best. It’s in God’s hands. Meanwhile, I covered all eventualities. I wrote a couple of letters, which will be part of my will. I’ll meet with the lawyer and Dr. Turner tomorrow. I hope you too can be here.”
“If you want me, I’ll be happy to attend your meeting.”
“Yes, please. You’ll be my second witness. Dr. Turner said I need two for a will.”
“Ah, okay.” He had no idea how wills were written. “Do you want Melody present?”
“No.” The sharp retort worried him and brought back his previous concerns.
“Alicia, what was the stuff you gave Melody to hide? Not drugs, I hope.”
“Drugs?” She opened big eyes and laughed. “Do I look like a young hipster to you? I’ll take this as a compliment.”
He sighed. “So, what are we talking about?”
“Something more serious, to me, at least.” She bobbed her head. “I asked her to hide two boxes, one with two Faberge eggs of great value, and a bag of family jewelry.”
Damn it, he’d never have guessed. All that fuss, the headache she’d caused him, the messy discussion with Melody...especially the pain of bad memories for Melody, all for a few trinkets, as she’d called them.
He felt his eyebrows gather in a tempestuous scowl.
“No need to concern yourself, doc. A few lines and signatures will take care of that.”
“Right.” He wanted to strangle her for her much ado about nothing. The sooner they got over Alicia’s will and surgery, the better for everyone around her. “See you tomorrow. Sleep well.”
“I will. You too, doc.”
Thanks to her, he couldn’t sleep for two hours, thinking of Melody. Would she be lying next to Stella, holding her little girl and trying to forget the nightmarish past?
Unable to relax in his bed, he called her. “Melody...” A sudden surge of emotion blocked his throat and he couldn’t say more.
“Hi, Aidan. Sorry I lost my temper. I’ve never talked to anyone about...about the past.”
“Sweetheart, I’m glad you got it out of your system. I couldn’t sleep, thinking about you. I wish I could hold you in my arms now.”
Not the most comforting words. How could he tell her he appreciated her trust and would always be at her side, without being too melodramatic?
Silence lingered over the line.
“Out of my system?” she finally blurted in a bitter tone. “A so-called mother who delivered me and walked away. A father who neglected his mistake. And a stepmother blaming a kid for the misery in her marriage. Is that something one can ever forget?” Melody screeched with a sob. “My past is part of me, Aidan. It made me who I am.”
He blinked under her verbal assault. What was wrong with her?
“Melody, you’re a survivor, a fighter. You’re strong and resilient, yet so sweet.”
“Am I suitable enough for you, Dr. Olson?”
Then he realized her revelation about her past had shaken her to the core, dredging up painful memories and unbearable offenses. “Oh, Melody, you’re very special to me.”
“So, you want to sleep with me again, Dr. Olson? Like others before you,” she spat.
He let her barb pass. She needed to vent her anger and misery. “I just want to hold you. Forever. I care about you, Melody. Let go of the past. We’re building our present.”
“No, I’m building it on my own. I don’t need you or any man. I have my daughter and a surrogate mother.”
He tried to distract her with another subject. “Talking about Alicia, I checked on her before leaving. She’s calm and relaxed.”
“She trusts your skills, Aidan. Have a glass of scotch and go to sleep. We’ll be counting on you tomorrow. Don’t you dare make a mistake... I...I...” Her nervousness was palpable. Was it her worry about Alicia making her so jumpy?
“Everything will go well. Goodnight.”
Everything was not good at all for Melody. If he didn’t have a full day tomorrow, he’d have driven to her place to hold her and...
He jumped out of bed. What the heck? She needed him. Badly. He pulled o
n his sweatpants and slipped on a T-shirt and sweatshirt. Grabbing his phone and car key, he strode to his SUV and drove through the empty streets to her duplex. He parked his car in the driveway and texted her. I’m here at your house. Coming upstairs.
Although she’d given him a key to her apartment when he started babysitting Stella at night, he wouldn’t want to scare her by showing up unannounced. He climbed the stairs slowly, thinking of what to say to help her calm down.
At the upper landing, he rapped his fingers on the door and shoved the key into the lock.
Melody opened the door. “You came?” Her eyes wet, her cheeks red, she stared at him. With her short pink pj’s and her hair mussed up on her shoulders, she looked like a teenager—the teenager of her past who had so badly needed love.
He pulled her into his arms and held her against him. Not saying a word, he let her draw strength from the sturdy support of his arms and the warmth of his body.
She nestled her head in the nook of his shoulder, sniffling on and off. When her cries diminished and stopped, he pressed his lips against her cheek and lifted her into his arms, carrying her to her bed, and gently laid her down.
“I just want to hold you. Maybe we’ll both be able to sleep.”
She nodded. He yanked off his sweatpants and shoes, lay down next to her, and gathered her against him. Her head on his chest, his arm around her, she relaxed and slept. And he finally drifted off.
Waking up in Melody’s bed was an interesting experience. Her phone alarm rang. The dog barked. Stella yelled, “Mommy.”
Melody lifted her head from its comfortable cocoon, looked at him, and smiled.
Aidan rubbed his forehead, the cacophony of the early morning threatening to cause a headache. “Too noisy here.” He raised an eyebrow and glanced at his watch. “Oh sh... seven-thirty already.” He bounced off the bed, huffing. “Glad you have an alarm and Bernie. I could have slept till noon.”
“Me too.” She chuckled. “Coming, baby,” she called to Stella.
He donned his sweatpants. “Hardly enough time to go home for a quick shower and make myself presentable.”
“Thanks for coming, Aidan.”
“See you soon, Nurse Parker.” He planted a noisy kiss on her lips and rushed downstairs, ignoring Bernie’s barking and Stella’s screams.
Chapter Eight
Determined to spend the morning with Alicia to keep her calm, Melody signed in on time at the nurses’ station.
“Melody,” Aidan called from behind her. “Dr. Leo needs you on his surgery at nine.”
She spun. “No, I’m staying with Alicia. She must be terrified.”
“Alicia is very calm, and Dr. Leo needs you.”
“No way I’ll abandon her now. Aidan, try to understand, please. She’s the only mother I ever had.”
Aidan focused a professional look on her. “Nurse Parker, you’re too emotionally involved. I don’t think you should be in my OR at all during Alicia’s surgery.”
Struggling to keep her calm, she grabbed his arm. “Don’t do that. You know I’m your best nurse. And I want Alicia to have the best conditions.”
“Then go with Dr. Leo. Alicia is in good hands now and doesn’t need you.”
At the hospital, he was her boss. She heaved a deep breath. “All right, Dr. Olson. I’ll be with Dr. Leo for now, but please let me assist you during Alicia’s surgery.”
“Don’t worry about her.”
***
Done with his rounds by nine o’clock, Aidan hurried to the third floor and Alicia’s room, with his white coat on over his dressy white shirt and tie. Two men in suits stood next to her bed.
“Dr. Turner, good morning.”
“’Morning, Dr. Olson.” His former boss waved to the man next to him. “Larry Johnson, my attorney.”
Aidan shook hands with both men. “How was your night, Alicia?”
“Good. The nurse gave me a pill and I slept till eight.”
“Mrs. Loren told us she’s going into surgery at two. And I reassured her she has the best neuro team with you and Melody Parker,” Dr. Turner said.
Aidan didn’t answer, but Dr. Turner was right. He couldn’t banish Melody from the surgery. She was his best nurse.
“Shall we proceed with the will?” the lawyer said.
“I’m ready.” Alicia opened the drawer of the night table and dug out two envelopes.
Aidan brought two chairs close to the patient’s bed, hooked a do-not-disturb sign on the knob, and closed the door, then perched on the foot of the bed.
“Mrs. Loren, here is a standard form for a will.” The lawyer showed her a few printed sheets. “I’ll ask you questions and fill in your answers. Then we will all sign.” He started throwing out questions about her full name, social security number, date of birth. “Beneficiary?”
“Melody Ann Parker, age twenty-nine, and her daughter, Stella Alice Parker.”
“Moving on to the assets...” A moment later, he stopped, his pen in hand. “No asset at all? Then...what are you leaving to your beneficiary?”
Alicia handed him an envelope. “Jewelry and others listed here.”
Larry Johnson read the one sheet and opened big eyes. “Wow.” He copied down the information. “May I ask how you acquired these valuable pieces?”
“I inherited them from my mother. They’ve been in the family for three generations. My great-grandmother escaped the Bolsheviks with a little sack hidden under her skirt. She sold a couple of pieces to survive. Her son started a busing service in New York, and then a liquor store, and made a fortune. He kept the other pieces as precious heirlooms. They’ve been in the family ever since.”
“In the family... I can understand that. Mrs. Loren, do you have family members who may want a part of the jewelry?”
“Two nephews. One of them calls once a year to check if I’m at death’s door. But their father inherited my part of the fortune, so my mother gave me these. At the time, I had two sons. They...they...” She bit her lip. “They passed at seventeen.”
“I’m sorry. But then your nephews would have the right to claim the jewelry if they’re supposed to stay in the family.”
Alicia pinched her lips. “No, they’re going to Melody.” She showed them another envelope. “This is to be opened after I pass.”
“May I read it now?” the lawyer asked.
“No.”
“Can you tell us what’s in it?”
“A letter for Melody.”
“But this doesn’t answer my question about the jewelry staying in the family.”
“It does.” Alicia’s eyes glittered with tears.
Aidan frowned. What the hell was in this letter? More heartache for Melody?
“Alicia, Melody has suffered enough. She told me about her past. I see you crying now. I hope this letter won’t cause her more misery.”
“I wish I could spare her. Mr. Johnson, maybe you can keep this letter with you, just in case my nephews cause trouble. Don’t ever show it to Melody.”
“Then I should read it now.”
“Okay, read it.”
He read it and studied Alicia’s pale face. “Are you sure you want to keep this secret?”
“Yes. I think I should.” She turned a desperate look on Aidan. “You just mentioned Melody told you about her past. I trust you. Read this and help me decide.”
His gaze flitted from her to the letter. He took it from the lawyer and read...and his heart almost stopped. “No, she should never know.”
“All right,” the lawyer said with a professional tone. “I entered all the information and noted two attachments, the two letters. Now we need to sign. By the way, where are the valuables now?”
“In Melody’s safe, at the bank. She’s never seen them.”
“Good. Sign here, Alicia. And here.” He moved the papers to Dr. Turner. “Please sign under ‘witness.’ You too, Dr. Olson.” When they were done scribbling their signatures, he enclosed the paper in a folder. “I’ll
file your will at the court. Ms. Parker is your beneficiary, but I will keep your letter with me and use it only in case your nephews contest the validity of your will. All is well. Mrs. Loren, good luck with your surgery.”
Both men left.
“Alicia, you need to rest,” Aiden said. “You’ve been through so much emotion.”
“It’s okay, Aidan. I know I did the right thing. Don’t ever bring up this subject again. Not with me, not with anyone.”
As if he ever could do such a thing. He nodded and studied the monitor with a frown.
Stress had bumped Alicia’s blood pressure way too high. He called Melody. She should be getting out of surgery.
She answered right away. “Aidan, I’m just getting out. How is Alicia?”
“Bring a coffee and your lunch. Come here and sit with her.”
“Right away.”
A few minutes later, she arrived, relaxed and smiling.
“Melody, do you mind if I bring Stella to kiss her Nana Licia?” Aidan said.
“Great idea. Thank you.” Alicia nodded with a weak smile.
He strode out the hospital, drove to the daycare, and carried a laughing Stella to his SUV. “We’re going to visit Nana Licia at the hospital,” he explained as he sat her in her car seat and buckled the seatbelt. With her smile and babbling, the adorable little girl could relax her anxious Nana Licia better than any medicine and keep her smiling for the next two hours.
At the hospital, he brought her a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and a carton of milk and trotted her to his patient’s room. He wanted laughter and good vibes around his patient for the next hour.
“Nana Licia, miss you, miss you so much,” Stella shouted from the door, and ran to the bed to kiss her nana’s cheek and then perch next to her.
“My little sparrow, I miss you too.” Alicia stroked the head of the little girl bringing a ray of sunshine into the room. “How is school?”
“School fun. Maddie and me we built a castle in the sandbox, and...” The flow of words mingled with bubbling laughter couldn’t be interrupted for the next ten minutes, but Alicia was smiling too, and her BP had dropped.
