“In the 1600s. We settled in Connecticut, and the Stantons first came to Virginia but then migrated up here.”
“1600s? You’ve got to be kidding me.” Charles shook his head back and forth, amazed.
“Well as the years went by the families kept up the bitter regard for each other and it passed from generation to generation.” His father leaned down to pet the dog.
“Charles, on another topic, I would like you to come down to the office on Thursday evenings and start getting used to the business I run in this part of the country.” His father looked over at him, ready to push his agenda for Charles’s life again.
“Dad, I need to check my schedule before I commit to that.” I just need time to figure out a good reason not to do that without divulging what I do on Thursday evenings.
Charles determined to avoid his father. Thursday afternoon, Charles showed up at the hospital like he had every Thursday all semester. “Okay kids, once you finish your dinner you know what comes next!” He loved reading to the children. It was fun having such a captive audience. The children were glued to him as he read each story. He loved it and embellished with emotion and dramatic exclamations to try to make it more fun for them. “See, guys, hospitals can be fun. I love this next story; wait til you hear what happens to George this time.”
One little girl in particular was special to him. She had been in and out of the children’s ward many times for long stays. When he visited her in her room, he noticed a book on the table by her bed. “Sally, what have you got there?”
“I wondered if you could read this book to me.” She handed Charles the book, and he started reading.
Sally sat quietly while Charles read to her, then she said, “When we finish, I will save our place until I come back in again and then we can continue the story. That way you won’t miss any of it.” She had such a happy sweet smile in spite of all she was going through.
She was ten years old. “I will be sure to be here if you have to return, because I need to find out what happens.” She giggled in delight and put her book into her satchel. Rachael made sure to keep Charles posted on Sally’s hospital stays.
Helping these children gave him joy and a peace that was missing in his life. He could never give that up, and this desire to help was the driving force behind his decision to go to medical school. The problem was how would he break the news to his parents. One thing he was not going to do was spend Thursday evenings at his father’s office. He was hoping to avoid that battle. He just hated to disappoint his parents, but it was his life, and spending it like his father planned was not exciting to him in the least.
His thoughts turned to Eliza. She had definitely been flirting with him after the race. The idea of even thinking about a Stanton that way had never entered his mind. He thought back to her eyes as she accepted his challenge of a date if she lost next year. That gave me all the motivation I needed. Charles laughed and shook his head. His heart beat faster just reliving the moment at the track.
The next day, Darrel showed up with an idea for training. “Listen, this might be fun. There is a racing camp in Texas that has a very good reputation. They actually train for the steeplechase and professional racing, but they take anyone who wants to apply. It’s located at a five-star ranch resort, the Rio Lago Ranch.”
“Darrel, I can’t have my friends know that I’m going to a summer camp just to win this race.” Charles scoffed.
“Well that’s the good part of this place. You can go incognito. It’s a hideout for very rich people to get away.”
Charles thought about it, and it did sound nice to get away, if nothing else. It would give him a week away before he mentioned medical school, and it would be nice to be away for a bit before that bomb dropped. He also admired what he felt was an easier laidback lifestyle prevalent in the West. He loved wearing his Stetson hat and alligator boots. His broad shoulders and the extra height he had with the boots really made an impression. He really liked the idea of heading to Texas.
“They have the second week of August open, so I took the liberty of signing you up, just so we wouldn’t lose the spot.”
“Okay, let’s do it,” Charles said.
”Great. That will give us a jumpstart to our training over the year.”
Later that day, Rachael called. “Hey, Rach, how are you doing?”
“I am fine, but I wanted to let you know that Sally is coming back in tomorrow.” Her voice sounded down.
Oh no. “How is she doing now?” Charlie was a little afraid to ask. He wiped his eyes and had a hard time talking around the lump in his throat.
“I don’t know if she is going to make it this time, Charlie, I’m sorry.”
Charlie knew this could happen. He just wished he had some magic remedy to cure all the children at the pediatrics center. “I don’t know if I could be like you, Rachael. Medicine might not be the best idea for me.”
“You’re very compassionate, Charles,, but men like you make the best doctors.”
“But are they happy in their work, or do they go around depressed all the time?” Charles really was rethinking his career choice.
“It’s not easy. Sally’s disease can ravage a child. She has done better than most. I’m looking into some European clinics. It’s a last ditch effort.”
“I’m going to come in tomorrow. I’ll see you then. Thanks for calling.” He had to get off the phone. He swallowed and rubbed his forehead. The next day, Charlie was there again, serving dinner with the kids. They had reading hour and then he sat down with Sally to read her book. “So why do you like this book so much, Sally?”
“Well, I like to imagine I am there, and when you read I can see the beauty that she sees. Plus,” she whispered, “I think I’m a kindred spirit.” Then she softened her eyes and asked, “Do you think we will have time to finish?”
“I am sure of it. I am going to come in every night and maybe during the day sometimes. We will for sure finish.” He knew she was wondering if she would die before they finished reading the book. He was determined that they would.
So that week Charles came in every evening and they did finish the book. Then, when he was talking to one of the nurses, he found out there were more books in the series and that they were also available on video. That gave Charles an idea.
On the way home, he ordered the DVDs of the rest of the series and called Rachael. “Hey, Rach, is there anything in Sally’s treatments tomorrow that would take her out of her room? I am bringing in some DVDs and hoped we could watch them all in one day.”
The next morning, his package arrived. It was amazing how Amazon delivered anywhere and at any time you wanted. He drove down to the hospital and sat in his seat, gathering his courage. He wanted to be able to stay upbeat and happy with Sally, and he didn’t want his emotions to get the better of him.
All the nurses knew Charles by now. As he came up the elevator, a woman stepped inside on the second floor. She looked over at him and patted his arm. “I have seen you reading to the kids. My Buster loves storytime. Thank you so much for brightening his day.”
“How is Buster doing now?” Charlie was almost afraid to ask. Buster had not been too ill, but his prognosis was not assured.
The woman’s face brightened and she smiled. “He is cured, there is no sign of the disease now. He has actually signed up for soccer this fall.” Now those were the stories that brightened Charles’s day. When it turned out that these children’s lives were saved, that made it all worth it.
The elevator doors opened for his floor, and he walked out, turning just as the doors were shutting. “That’s great!”
The nurses’ station was bustling with activity this time of day. He waited until one of the nurses had time to speak to him. There were four computers sitting on the bench behind the counter. It didn’t matter where a patient went, within seconds, his complete medical history could be brought up on a computer screen. The walls were covered with playful animal cartoon figures. Everythin
g was in bright, happy colors. One room in the center, just behind the nurses’ station was a large, carpeted playroom for those children who were off bedrest. Large beanbag chairs and big, fluffy area rugs lined the walls. It was there that he did his storytime, but today he would stay in Sally’s room.
“Hey, Charlie, who are you here to see today?” asked a nurse. Charles pointed to his DVDs and she smiled.
“Oh, Sally. Well, she is going to love those. Go on back.”
Charles quietly opened the door. They had moved Sally to a private room. Her parents were there and looked happy to see him.
Sally’s mother got up with her husband and reached down for Sally’s hand. “We’re going to run some errands today. Charlie told us he has a big surprise for you.”
Sally smiled and waited expectantly. “Well, Sally, I discovered that your book has three sequels that continue the story. But since that would take so long to read them all, I got the DVDs so we could spend a whole day watching them all at once.”
Sally squealed with delight.
Her parents kissed her and turned to leave. “Thanks for coming, Charlie. We really appreciate this.” Charles smiled and shook her father’s hand.
Sally smiled in excitement. “Okay, see you later, Mom and Dad.”
“I brought my laptop with the bigger screen so it will be easy to watch. And I have a little friend to watch with us.” Charles took out the stuffed teddy bear he’d purchased at the hospital gift shop.
Sally hugged the little bear to her heart and scooched down while Charlie fluffed up her pillows. They were ready to see the movies.
That day, Charles and Sally shared the lives of the characters in the movies. The nurses and doctors came in and out and some stopped to watch for a minute. Charlie tried his best to make it fun with exclamations and chatter about what had just happened. At one point they had to stop the DVD and discuss what was happening.
Sally was appalled. “I don’t know why they didn’t let her wear her glasses.”
“Too bad they didn’t have contacts back then or eye surgery.” Charles was emphatic.
At the end of the day, Sally’s parents returned and watched the last half hour with them. She fell asleep with a smile on her face, all curled up around the teddy bear. Charles left quietly as her parents took up their vigil next to her bed for the night. His heart was happy and sad at the same time as he rode down in the elevator. It always felt good to serve others, even in the face of dire circumstances.
Chapter 5
Eliza was sweating; she tossed and turned in her bed, dreaming. She gave Tandy the signal to go faster. She never wanted anything so much in her life. But Tandy was not getting the message. “Tandy, Tandy, listen, I’m sending the right message.” But as much as she concentrated, they were still going in slow motion. Charles was coming up on the left side. She tried harder, yelling, but it was no use. He passed her, but with a sad pitiful look in his eyes. What was going on? She woke up. It was the middle of the night—everything went from the bright sunlight on the racetrack to total blackness.
“Good grief! What a nightmare.” She had had more than one nightmare that summer about the race. Eliza sat up and got out of bed to get a drink of water. She changed into her sweats. This race meant more to her than she’d realized if she was going to keep having nightmares about it. She wondered if it was the feud that was driving her to train or if she was just trying to impress Charles by winning. I am going to have to do more than I’ve planned if Charles is also practicing. His pride would make him try to win, but that date dangling out there like a big juicy carrot might also have something to do with his attitude now. She smiled, feeling her face heat. Would anything ever happen between them? He’d had such a cavalier attitude at the race that she didn’t think he really cared about winning. But he would care now, she was sure of it. And he would be hard to beat. Eliza got her laptop and sat on her bed, searching for riding academies until it started getting light out. She only had a few weeks left of the summer if she was going to do this.
She wanted one far away so she wouldn’t run into anyone she knew, and she didn’t want word to get back to Charles of the extra measures she was taking to beat him. She found a new riding academy in Texas that actually trained for steeplechase as well. This will be fun.
She put her laptop down and ran out to train with Tandy. After training, Eliza went in for breakfast. “Hi, Dad, I’m surprised you are still at home this morning. It’s nice to have breakfast with you. I have missed you while at school.”
“Hi, Lizzy, we miss you more than you know. I’m taking the late train into New York today. My driver is having the car serviced, and it will be nice to try the train again. I enjoy the ride.” Her father got another egg from the tray.
“Dad, would it be okay if I attended a riding academy at the end of this summer? They train you to race and also give you training ideas for your horse.”
“Sure, give me the name of it and I will have my secretary check it out. Do you want me to book it if it’s okay?” Her father put down his toast and looked at her, smiling.
“It’s the Rio Lago Ranch, and yes if there’s an opening, please do book it. I plan to do everything I can to improve—not just to win, but to better my skills.”
“Do you need to bring Tandy?”
“No, they said they have a good stable of horses at our disposal. I saw a picture of some of them, and they do look very good.”
“I’ll get Tessa on it as soon as I get into the city.” Her father got up and gave her a kiss on the top of her head. “I will see you tonight; have a great day.”
“Thanks, Dad, you too.”
He stopped and turned around. “Lizzy, did Mom tell you the Winstons were coming to dinner?”
Her heart jumped into her throat. The Winstons. Which meant Herbert Winston, the marriageable Herbert Winston. The Herbie Winston she played with at the beach when she was two years old. “Oh, no. She didn’t.” Probably because she didn’t want to ruin my whole day. “What time are they coming?” So I can skip town or catch pneumonia at the pool today.
Her parents had been hinting that Herbert Winston would be a good match once she was ready to marry. Seriously, doesn’t that take all of the romance out of finding your true love? It was true that in some of the books she read it did turn out that the boy from the hometown was the best after all. Gilbert and Anne were the perfect example of that. But as far as she could tell, Herbie was no Gilbert.
“Thanks for warning me, Dad.”
“Now, Lizzy, just give him a chance and see how this develops.”
“I have no interest in how he develops. Good grief.” Eliza threw her napkin in the air.
Her father laughed. “Lizzy, I am talking about the kind of attributes one might want in a marriage partner. What characteristics he may have.”
“You mean, is he still a spoiled rotten brat or not?” Eliza took her glass to the counter for more orange juice. She loved that every morning the counter was set up in the dining room with a few choices for breakfast. She always ate light in the mornings or she would feel sick all day. Eliza liked some fruit, some granola and yogurt, and a large glass of orange juice, her father always had meat for breakfast, and her mother was usually dieting. Her mother would not be happy if she saw what Eliza ate at school.
“He got a new car. Maybe he could take you for a drive?”
Was her father crazy, or did he just hope she would die young. Driving with Herbert was the last thing she was going to do this evening. “Dad, seriously, have you no concern for my safely?”
Her father left, chuckling.
I am glad he gets a kick out of this. He is talking about the ruination of my entire life, very funny.
Eliza ran upstairs to grab her sports bag and ran into her mother on the way back down.
“Mom, I can’t believe we have to entertain the Winstons tonight.” Eliza tried on her old teenage pouty look for effect.
“It will be fine, Eliza. You k
now the Winstons are not just looking at our family for marriage possibilities. They have checked out the Phillips and the Sangers as well.”
Eliza laughed. “They won’t have much luck. He was the boy in grade school who picked his nose at the lunch table. Girls don’t forget.”
“Oh, Lizzy, I’m sure you did childish things as well growing up.”
“Not that, Mom. I’m going to go shopping after swim team. But I’ll be home for dinner. I love you.” She kissed her mom and ran out to the car.
The family driver was waiting for her in the town car. “Hey, James, another great summer day! Never mind that the Winstons are coming to dinner.”
“Oh, yes I remember their son.” He raised his eyebrows. “You have my condolences. Are you going anywhere after swim team?” James drove out toward the gate.
“I want to get some riding gear and outfits. I don’t have time to go into the city to Manhattan Saddlery, but is there somewhere around here where I could find some?”
James took out his phone. “I am sure there is; while you’re at practice, I will find a couple suitable locations for shopping.”
“Thanks, James, that will be great.” Eliza sat back and tried to remember the last time she was with Herbert. It was four years ago at the beach house. The Winstons’ beach home was a mile down the beach from the Stantons’, and they happened to be vacationing at the same time. Eliza went out early one morning to walk the beach. She loved having the beach to herself. She often caught the last of the seals close to shore, and she got first pick of the shells that washed up during the night. The sand dunes sheltered the beach from the highway that was about a half mile from the ocean. It was beautiful, and she felt alone with nature’s beauty. The ocean waves were calming. She could sit mesmerized for hours, watching them and thinking. Pelicans drifted in the air, playing in the wind. The seagulls followed the fishing boats as they passed by. It was a cloudless sky that day, and the air was fresh after the weekend rains.
Just as she was about to start jogging, she heard a horrible retching sound and someone calling for help. She turned to walk up through the dunes as her father’s warnings rang in her ears. Carefully, she crept toward whoever it was and peered through the dune grasses to see a guy lying face down and only lifting his head to retch. Eliza started to gag from the smell. He lifted his head again, and then she realized it was Herbert. Relieved, Eliza stood up and walked down the dune toward him. “Herbie, can I help you?” She walked over and tried to support him as he tried to sit up. “Oh, this is sick, Herb.” He had vomit all over himself, from his chin to his swimsuit.
Her Billionaire Secret Romance Page 4
