Chapter 19
Brooke wasn’t sure how long she’d been asleep when hushed voices woke her up. Hands down, the hospital was the worst place on the face of the earth to get a decent night’s sleep. She couldn’t wait to get home.
“Which does she like best?” A woman asked, sounding oddly like Eileen.
“Personally, I like her in red. It is the season.”
Was that— Mom?
“This is her favorite,” Ivey’s small voice said.
Brooke opened up one eye. She wasn’t dreaming this. Mom, Eileen and Ivey stood just inside her hospital room holding up dresses.
“What’s going on?” Brooke asked. “Is there some discharge dress code I’m not aware of?”
She was scheduled to go home today, both the doctor and the nurse had said. They’d already held her an extra day out of an abundance of caution. Plus, Billy had promised. Her last memory before she’d drifted off to sleep had been of him, just sitting next to her holding her hand.
“Good, you’re awake,” Eileen said moving toward the bedside.
Ivey and Mom followed . “Do you prefer the red dress or the black one?” Ivey asked. “I said the black one, but it is Christmas time.”
“Can’t I just go home in jeans?” She wasn’t exactly feeling glamorous.
“Believe me, honey, you’re going to want to look your best in a few minutes,” Mom said.
“I brought your makeup,” Ivey said. “Do you want me to help you put it on?”
Considering she was right handed, the answer was obvious. But why did she need to wear makeup? Brooke sat up a little straighter. “All right, what’s going on?”
She caught Eileen, Mom and Ivey exchanging a look.
“There might be some photos taken in a few minutes. And I figured you’d want to look your best,” Ivey said.
Brooke’s heart sped up into the stratosphere. She hadn’t asked if anyone else had been involved in the accident. What if there was a press conference? “Was someone else hurt in the accident? I thought it was just me.”
“Oh no, dear. This is good news,” Eileen said. “The best. Just please listen to the women and do as we say.”
“You won’t regret it,” Mom said.
“The shoes!” Eileen said. “I almost forgot.”
“I’ll come with you.” Mom followed Eileen out the door.
For the first time it occurred to Brooke that Mom and Eileen had a lot in common. One loved healthy food, the other one the ground that provided it.
Ivey came at Brooke with the mascara wand.
“Put away the wand, and nobody gets hurt.” Brooke said.
“Just let me do this and stop asking questions,” Ivey said with a pout. “I’ve been sworn to secrecy.”
Brooke sucked in a breath. She remembered bits and pieces of her conversations with Billy. He wanted a second chance. He wanted to ask her properly. Could this have anything to do with it? She was beginning to have suspicions.
Why now? In her hospital bed?
But would she argue the point? She wasn’t picky about the location or the proposal. It just had to happen, the sooner the better, so she could say yes. Hell yes. “Put it on, and make sure it doesn’t clump.”
A few minutes later, Brooke sat up on the edge of her bed. Her hair and makeup were done to perfection. All three women had somehow eased her red dress over her cast, and she wore her black stiletto heels. Felt a bit like a Christmas card come to life. She tried not to think about how the holidays had never been a particularly good to her.
Maybe this year would be different.
Eileen, who had been alternatively staring out the window and pacing, finally waved Brooke over with a smile. “Brooke, come see this.”
Brooke kicked off the heels and shuffled over to the window, Mom and Ivey flanking her on either side. Several stories below, a smattering of cameras were pointed at a microphone stand. And the man behind that mic was none other than Billy.
He looked heartbreakingly handsome in casual jeans and a Sliders jacket.
Ivey flicked on the TV and Brooke turned to see Billy on the local channel.
“Do you have an announcement to make?” someone shouted.
“What’s this about, Billy?”
“Thanks for coming, guys. I do have an announcement. I’ve decided to pass on the sports casting offer from Fox. Instead I’ll be coaching the high school baseball team, the Starlight Hills Panthers. The place where I began. And of course, my grandfather and I own Mirassu vineyards as most of you know. But starting next month the vineyard will be under a new name. It’s going to be called Brooke’s. Brooke’s Wine. That has a nice ring to it.”
Brooke’s heart dropped. She didn’t want the place named after her. Yes, that was kind and generous but what about her marriage proposal? She tried to smile but her eyes grew watery and she leaned a little bit on Mom. “That’s sweet. This is a surprise.”
The press would probably want photos of her and it was a good thing she looked presentable. As long as she could keep the tears in check.
Anyway, there would be plenty of time for a proposal later. She needed to get a grip.
“And guys, I know the media and I haven’t always had the best relationship, but if you could help me out here. You see, my girl doesn’t much like the holidays. I wanted to change that this year.”
Someone that looked suspiciously like Stephan brought out a giant blown up photo of the one on Stephan’s blog and handed it to Billy.
Written on the photo in large and bright red letters were the words:
“Would the woman in this photo please marry me?”
That’s when Billy looked up as if he’d marked her window and knew her exact location. Smiling, he turned the sign up. Cameras clicked and reporters fired out questions. Brooke couldn’t hear any of them over the buzz in her brain.
Mom squeezed her shoulder. Ivey sobbed.
Eileen cried out, “My son is such a romantic.”
“Does this window open?” Brooke asked. First things first. How could she say yes through a closed window? “Ivey, help me open this window. Quick!”
Ivey shoved the window open, but Billy wasn’t standing in front of the mic any longer.
As if he’d anticipated her questions, the TV news camera zoned in on one reporter.
“Ladies and gentlemen, sports fans everywhere: Billy Turlock has entered the hospital building. I’ve sent a runner behind him and I’ll be giving you a play by play. Stand by, please. We’ve all watched Billy’s career, but I think it’s safe to say this is the most important pitch of his life. Will she or won’t she, folks? Aaaaaand he’s on the second floor. Sprinting down the hallway, my runner tells me. Still carrying that huge sign. What do you expect? He’s an athlete. And I’m willing to bet Billy has just thrown one of his famous fast balls tonight. Sailing across the plate at ninety-eight miles an hour straaaaaight into the catcher’s glove.”
“I feel like we’re at a ball game,” Ivey muttered then suddenly grabbed Brooke. “Put your heels on! He’s coming!”
“I don’t need my heels. So what if I’m short,” Brooke said as she moved away from the window.
She had to catch her breath. Billy was going to do this right here, right now, just two days after Christmas.
She heard a nurse down the hallway. “All right, I’ll allow this foolishness but no way is that man going in with you. And hand me that ridiculous photo.”
Suddenly the reporter on the TV channel stopped talking and scowled into the camera. “We’ll be back after a word from our sponsor.”
Then Billy was in her room, and she stood frozen to the spot. She probably couldn’t move an inch if a hurricane came through her room, and her heartbeat banged against her rib cage hard enough to wake the dead.
“Hi,” she said to the whirlwind that was Billy Turlock. If she didn’t love him so much she’d hate him for not even looking winded.
“Wow, you look beautiful.” He sounded surprised. Was
he seriously going to propose with her hospital gown on? Men.
She threw a grateful smile in the direction of Mom, Ivey and Eileen. Then she turned back to Billy. “Yes!”
“No, wait a minute.” He fished in his pants pocket.
“Too late. You can’t take it back now,” Brooke said.
He flashed the full throttle grin and dropped to one knee. “I’ve been a lucky man most of my life, but I think the luckiest day of my life was when I bought the Mirassu vineyard. Not because I got a deal on a great piece of land but because it led me to my real treasure. I don’t much care for wine, or money, or even baseball if I can’t have you there with me. Will you marry me?”
Brooke stared at Billy’s now open palm. In it was a beautiful solitaire diamond ring. “Yes, yes! I’m marry you!”
Billy slipped the ring on her finger and thank goodness her left arm wasn’t in a cast. It slid right on like it had been sized for her. “I love you, Brooke.”
“I love you,” she whispered, getting used to the sound of those words.
In the next few minutes the room filled with the rest of the Turlocks— Pop, Wallace, Scott. Giancarlo too, standing at Eileen’s side.
Pop uncorked a bottle of champagne. “Hot diggity dog! Let’s celebrate!”
The holidays would never be the same again. Neither would Brooke.
Billy threaded his fingers through her left hand, and Brooke turned to see all the smiling faces in the room. Pop grinned ear to ear, Wallace for once looked interested, and Scott slapped Billy’s back. Ivey sniffled, Mom was pulling a tissue out of the nearby box, and Eileen was openly weeping in Giancarlo’s arms.
There were a whole lot of people in the room for one proposal. But she wouldn’t have it any other way. She squeezed Billy’s hand.
This was a family affair.
THE END
From All of Me (Book 1) Now Available on Amazon
Chapter 1
Not a good sign.
Instead of being ushered to HR to sign employee paperwork and W2 forms, Ivey Lancaster had been sent to the medical director’s office.
Probably some minor mix-up with the paperwork. By now they’d received the glowing letter of reference from her mentor, Babs Holiday. Ivey was more than qualified for the midwife position at the new women’s center.
Deep breath. You’ve got this.
Finally, Dr. Lillian Walker walked into her office. “I apologize, but I’m running behind this morning.” She shook Ivey’s hand. “We’re on my son’s third babysitter. He’s four, and the master of his universe. In other words, he’s going to grow up to be a surgeon.” Lillian sat behind the futuristic-looking stainless steel desk, drew in a deep breath and leaned back in her chair.
Uh-oh. “Is something wrong?” Ivey asked.
Lillian picked up a file, stared at it, and put it back down. “You could say that. This morning I found an orderly and a nurse in a closet, and they weren’t looking for supplies. Dr. Harrison has taken an ill-timed vacation, since his wife threatened that if he didn’t come along she’d go by herself and not come back. So I’m short staffed again. And then there’s this desk. Who ever heard of a desk without drawers? It’s beautiful, but why do I feel like I’m Uhura on Star Trek? I’d like to strangle the designer.”
Ivey wished she could help, but she had her own problems. Aunt Lucy had a broken leg, and she’d be waiting at home right now. Wondering if her niece would get the job. So if Lillian could get on with it, that would be nice.
“And then there’s the women’s center, and the midwife position.” She scowled.
Directors scowling: another bad sign.
Ivey tensed at the overpowering scent of Lillian’s lavender perfume, causing a sudden memory of Mom. On a good day, Mom had always been in Ivey’s corner. On a bad day, Mom couldn’t find the corner.
But this didn’t make sense. Lillian had practically promised the job to Ivey.
“It’s not you,” Lillian said.
Great. Could any good news start out that way? “So there’s a problem.”
“You guessed it. I’ve run into some objections from the obstetric doctors on staff.” Lillian sighed and tapped a manicured nail on her desk.
This didn’t come as any surprise. Ivey had dealt with territorial doctors before, but Lillian had filled her mind with thoughts of a progressive hospital. “But you said ...”
“I know, and I’m sorry, Ivey, but I can’t hire you. I can’t hire anyone right now. The work requisition has been held up due to the doctors’ objections. They went to the board. Behind my back.” Lillian’s lips were a thin, straight line.
“I thought—”
“Think about what it’s like for me as medical director of this hospital. The first female director. Our small hospital has been overwhelmed with budget cuts—”
“But this is why you would save money with the midwifery program. The hospital can save money when a midwife delivers a baby,” Ivey said, but suddenly the problem dawned on her like a pink zebra in the room. Doctors, pressed between onerous HMOs breathing down their backs and struggling hospitals, felt their livelihoods threatened. She’d heard this story before.
“You can imagine how well it went over with the doctors on staff. I only have three of them on the L&D floor. It’s hard enough to keep them here. Malpractice insurance costs, rising health care costs, and now the Affordable Health Care Act.” Lillian waved a hand in the air.
Ivey sank in her seat. “I see.” Until this moment she hadn’t realized how much she wanted the job. She’d gotten used to being home again, among the hills and rambling vineyards of Starlight Hill in Napa Valley. Aunt Lucy constantly complained about its appalling lack of nightlife, but Ivey loved the quiet and the time to reflect. She’d been gone too long, kept away mostly by memories too tender to face even after all this time.
But she was back now, and that said something. It said Ivey Lancaster was ready to move on and make a life.
Now she’d have to find Plan B. Damn doctors. “Well, thank you for your time.”
Ivey started to get up, but Lillian spoke again. “Unless, and I can’t ask for this—” Lillian’s steadfast brown eyes settled on Ivey.
“Unless what?”
“Unless you like a fight.”
As it happened, Ivey had been fighting for one thing or another most of her life. Did she like a fight? Yeah, but only if she could win.
“I like a fair fight. And I especially like to win.” Might as well put it out there.
“I thought so. I’ll be honest. I had a feeling it would be difficult to get this idea past the doctors. But it’s time for some changes around here. And I saw something in you I didn’t see in the other candidates. You don’t give up easily, do you?”
She didn’t. A person with dyslexia didn’t get through life without engaging in a metaphorical fight or two. Or three. “True.”
“If you’ll help me, I believe we could make this vision of ours a reality. Since the doctors’ objections, the board has arranged for a subcommittee to oversee the decision. They’ve appointed one doctor to represent them, and I’d like to appoint you.”
“Me?” She was a midwife, not a committee member.
Every time she’d had to make a presentation in school she’d clammed up. It had meant PowerPoint slides and reading out loud, and with her dyslexia, that was not a good time. She’d finally memorized every last word so that she wouldn’t have to rely on any reading.
The whole idea was out of the question. “Sorry, I’m not a good speaker.”
“You won’t have to present. It’s simply a written recommendation to the Board. What I need is someone who believes in my vision—someone who shares it with me.”
“I see your point, but I’m not sure how I can help.”
“I want our new women’s center to eventually have a staff of midwives available. Women who have low-risk pregnancies deserve that choice, don’t you agree?”
“Well, of course I agree.” B
ut that wasn’t the point. The point was she wasn’t going to be on any committee, sub- or otherwise.
“Thank you! You won’t regret this. The doctors have appointed a first-year resident to the subcommittee. Some requirement by one of the benefactors. Don’t ask me why, but surely the two of you can get along and come to some sort of compromise. You’re both young, so you’ll be flexible.” Lillian stood up.
“But I—” When had she agreed to do this?
“Follow me. I’ll find the resident they’ve appointed, and maybe the two of you can arrange the first meeting.”
She hadn’t agreed to anything, and yet why were her feet following Lillian like they had any good sense?
Lillian led her to a conference room and waved towards a chair. “I’ll be right back once I find him. He’s an ER resident, so if he’s here at all, that’s where he’ll be. Sit tight.”
Ivey didn’t sit. She’d rather stand, thank you. Pace, more like it. She might pace her way right out of this conference room and right through the front doors of St. Vincent’s Hospital. Hop in her SUV and drive back to the Vineyard Cottages where Aunt Lucy would be waiting.
But she did want this job, and the fact remained that a first-year resident wasn’t going to be all that intimidating. No, she could handle him.
Then the door opened, and Ivey’s world shifted off its axis. She dropped into a chair before she fell down. This. Wasn’t. Happening. “What the hell are you doing here?”
Jeff Garner should not have walked into the conference room like he had any business being here. He was supposed to be away in another state, completing his residency.
He met her eyes. “I was going to ask you the same thing. I’m here for a subcommittee meeting.”
“That’s not funny.”
“Good, because I wasn’t trying to be.” Jeff took a seat on the other side of the table. As far away as he could get from her, because he was good at that. Interesting how some things never changed.
“Why aren’t you in Maryland?”
“Because that would be a hell of a commute.” He leaned back in his seat.
Somebody Like You (Starlight Hill Series Book 2) Page 27
