by Nesly Clerge
“I waved. It’s not my fault she’s blind.” Tim opened the refrigerator door, blocking himself from their view as the chilled air escaped confinement.
Luke closed the space between them, taking his position next to Tim. He grabbed his son’s arm. “Her name is Brandi, not she. Brandi is my wife. You may feel and even be too old for the care a step-mother can give, but that doesn’t excuse you from showing proper manners and respect. That goes for anyone who’s your elder. If you want to be treated with respect, you have to give respect. That includes in this house. Do you understand?”
“Mom said I don’t have to speak to anyone I don’t want to,” he jerked his head toward Brandi, “including her. You’re hurting me.”
Luke released Tim’s arm. “We teach people how to treat us, son. If you want to be treated like a whiny, petulant child, that can be arranged. If you need a whipping, I can accommodate you with that, as well.”
Brandi leaned across the counter. “Everybody calm down. Tim just got here. He’s probably hungry.” She forced a laugh. “I get cranky when I need to eat. Let’s let him get a snack and relax.” She faced Tim. “Don’t fill up. Dinner will be in about an hour.”
Luke turned and pointed a finger at Tim. “Stop acting like a little twit. Especially in my house.” He followed Brandi into the adjoining den. “I can’t believe he’s become so rude.”
Brandi placed a hand on his shoulder and lowered her voice. “I’ve never heard you speak to him that way, or seen you lay a hand on him. What’s really going on with you?”
“I’m fine. Just annoyed.”
“He’s young, and still hurting from the divorce. I know it’s been a few years since you and his mother separated, but it’s not easy for children. First the split, and then adding another woman into the mix. Kids don’t like it if they think someone’s trying to replace their mother or father. You need to practice patience with him. Give him time to get to know me better and accept me as a permanent fact in his life. We’ll get along. You’ll see.”
“I understand it’s hard on him, but he’s fourteen, for God’s sake. Hard on him or not, he’s old enough to learn respect. If I coddle him, I risk his choosing bad behavior over good. If I have to take my belt to him to make an impression, I will.”
“You can’t whip a boy his age.”
“I don’t care if he’s fourteen or twenty. What I don’t want is for him to go the way of my cousin Jimmy. That’s how he started out. Back-talking every adult that spoke to him. I don’t want to wait too late to get my son on the right track. I’ll teach him respect if I have to beat it into him.”
“Something is wrong. This isn’t like you at all. Tim is likely as shocked by your behavior as I am, though he’s doing a better job of hiding it.”
Brandi wanted a better explanation for how he was acting. He didn’t offer one. Because he didn’t know what to tell her.
CHAPTER 13
The next morning, Garrett Hall approached the nurses’ station, vacant of the usual crew, with the exception of one nurse scrolling through a file drawer. “Nurse Adams,” he said. “New hairstyle, I see.”
“Do you like?” She turned in a slow circle.
“Makes me want to mess it up in a bad way.” He leaned forward. “A very bad way.”
She laughed and returned to her task. “I’ll take that as a thumbs-up.”
“I love this hospital. Everyday, I’m surrounded by angels.” Garrett stepped behind the desk, grabbed her by the waist, and moved her away from the filing cabinet. “I need some charts, beautiful; though, I’m more tempted to study you in depth.”
She glanced at her watch. “I get off in about forty minutes.”
Garrett wiggled his eyebrows. “Good thing I’ve got stamina.”
She laughed. “You’re such a flirt.”
“I’m a connoisseur of beauty. And just so we’re clear, flirtation is usually innocent. We know better, don’t we?”
“Careful, doctor. I might swoon.”
“I can get you to do that. My office door locks, as you know.”
He took several charts, winked at the nurse and left wondering if she’d show up. If she did, the question was, Should he position her on the end of his desk, bend her over it, or do her against the wall. The last time he’d walled her, one of his framed certificates had crashed to the floor.
A note telling him to see Dr. Logan was taped to his office door. He dropped the charts onto his desk then quick-stepped his way to the department head’s office. He rapped on the door jamb. “You wanted to see me, sir?”
“Take a seat, Garrett.”
Garrett lowered into the chair opposite the imposing mahogany desk. “Everything okay?”
Aaron Logan cleared his throat and adjusted his polka-dot bow tie. “We’ve been reviewing your file. Your performance at this hospital is exemplary.”
“Thank you, sir. That means a lot, coming from a doctor of your caliber.”
“As you know, I’ll be retiring the first of the year. How would you like to be head of the department?”
“I’m honored, but also surprised. I assumed Dr. Williams would move into your position. He’s been here longer than I have.”
“There are times when that isn’t enough. You’ve accomplished more at forty-five years of age than most doctors have in their lifetime.” He tapped the file in front of him. “Your scores on the boards were just short of amazing. You’re the only one on staff here with board certifications in radiology, internal medicine, and cardiology. It’s practically unheard of, and would be a huge benefit to this department.”
“I’m flattered. But I’ll have to decline.”
“May I ask why?”
“You know my arrangement. I own my radiology practice and work there three days a week, three days here. You need someone who can serve the hospital full-time. Besides, I barely spend time with my family as it is.”
Logan waved his hand in a dismissive manner. “It’ll be a walk in the park for someone with your skills. Just supervise a few residents and sign a few papers. That’s it. You’ll have two assistants to help with the administrative duties.”
“You make it sound so easy.”
“It can be.” Logan paused for a moment. “Let me pitch it to you this way. How does an additional two hundred and fifty thousand a year sound? To start, that is.”
“Additional?”
“On top of whatever you’re currently making here.”
“Where do I sign?”
CHAPTER 14
Garrett returned to his office. He picked up the first chart but left if unopened. In medical school most students wanted to go into radiology, as it was the only branch of medicine that guaranteed they could also have a life. Few scored high enough on the board to be accepted into a radiology residency, which was a bitch, but came with the territory. He’d made damn sure he wasn’t one of them. All his efforts were about to pay off better and sooner than he’d anticipated. An advantage to owning a practice was that he could hire another part-time radiologist. Everything else could be delegated.
Chelsea was going to be thrilled. It was also her birthday tomorrow. And he knew the best way to tell her the news. A celebration was in order. He made a phone call to handle certain arrangements ahead of time, then put his full attention on the charts.
He looked up at the sound of the lock on his office door being clicked into place. Garrett leaned back in his chair. There was more than one way to celebrate a win. “Something I can do for you, Nurse Adams?”
“I need my temperature taken.”
“Don’t worry. I know just where my thermometer needs to go, to get a proper result.”
CHAPTER 15
His special task for Chelsea’s birthday had taken about a half hour to complete. A few minutes after six, Garrett opened the front door and called out, “I’m home.”
Penelope stepped out from the kitchen. “You’re home early. Suspiciously so.”
Garrett frowned. Typical o
f her, her dress was far too short and too low cut, especially in his house, where his daughter could be easily influenced. “Where’s Chelsea?”
She pointed straight up.
Kimberlie sped down the staircase. “Dad, you’re home early. Mom said you were working late again.”
“I decided not to.” He hugged her and kissed the top of her head. “Tomorrow’s your mother’s birthday, you know.”
“Yeah, I know.”
“Did you get her a gift?”
“Duh.”
“What have I told you about using real words?”
From his left a voice that cracked said, “Hello, Dr. Hall.”
The young man exited the living room with his hand extended. The anticipated handshake never came. His hand dropped to his side and he shuffled his feet in place.
Garrett studied the boy from head to toe, “Who are you?”
“I’m Mark. Kimberlie’s date.”
“Her what?”
Kimberlie nudged Garrett. “Be nice, Dad.”
Mark cleared his throat. His ears burned red.
Garrett scowled at him. “Even if my daughter were old enough to date, which she isn’t, she wouldn’t be going anywhere with anyone who wears his pants halfway down his ass.”
“Dad, I said to be nice. Everybody’s wearing their pants like that. Stop embarrassing me.”
Garrett held up a hand to silence his daughter. “Do either of you have any idea how that ‘style’ got started?” Neither answered. “It’s not a damn fashion statement; it’s a signal a prison inmate gives to other inmates that he’s available for sex.” Satisfied at their shocked expressions, he continued. “You’re all running around believing you’re so cool, ignorant of what it really represents. No boy looking like that is taking my daughter out. End of discussion.” He turned to Kimberlie. “Go to your room. We’ll talk later.”
Kimberlie cried out, “What is wrong with you?” She bounded up the stairs, shouting for her mother.
Mark hadn’t moved, his confusion about what to do evident on his face. The young man swallowed hard when Garrett faced him, sending his pronounced Adam’s apple into a series of bobs.
“Kimberlie is too young to date. I know what boys your age want, and you can forget about getting it from my daughter.”
“No, sir. I wouldn’t—”
“When she’s old enough to date, and if you can dress like you respect her, and yourself, maybe I’ll consider letting her go out with you, but not before. The only reason you’re still in the running is you were polite when you greeted me. Apparently, you learned some manners along the way.”
He escorted the humiliated teen to the front door then stomped upstairs to the master bedroom.
What the hell was Chelsea thinking?
CHAPTER 16
He found Chelsea folding and putting away towels in the master bathroom. “What’s going on with your fifteen-year-old daughter?”
“You ought to know. She’s in her room, sobbing because of you.”
“Did you meet the thug she brought to our house?” Before Chelsea could answer, he said, “She’s too young to begin dating.”
“Kimmie is old enough, and he isn’t a thug. He happens to be very nice. And for your information, it’s not her first date. She’s been going on dates since she was fourteen.”
“What the hell, Chelsea?”
“Relax. They go with others. I told her no solo dating until sixteen.”
“I don’t believe this. Why are you keeping me out of the loop? Forget it. I already know the answer. You both know damn well I would have said no.”
“If you were home more often, you could be involved in your daughter’s life.”
“That’s no excuse, and you know it. Did you see how he was dressed?”
“Don’t you remember what it’s like at that age?”
“That’s precisely what I mean.”
“Poor Mark. He must feel so awkward waiting for Kimmie to go back downstairs, especially after what you said to them. I’ll go talk to him.”
“He’s not waiting. I told him to check back when Kimberlie’s old enough, and if he wears his pants where they belong.”
“You are so going to get it from her. Don’t you realize you’ll only make it worse if you try to take away her freedom? Not to mention humiliate her and her friends. You want her to sneak out? It’s best to let her be open with us. Give her some space and let her be a teenager.”
“Oh sure. But what kind of teenager? I don’t want anyone thinking my daughter’s a slut.”
“Garrett!”
“Speaking of sluts, why is Penelope always here?”
“Don’t call her that. And, she isn’t always here. She’s here now because she’s copying some recipes.”
His expression was one of genuine surprise. “Penelope cooks?”
“In her own way. That’s why she needs a few recipes.”
“She’s the wrong influence for my daughter. You should know better. I don’t want Kimberlie to think it’s okay to dress like she’s for rent by the hour. She’s going to be a doctor one day. Impressions matter.”
“You should talk.”
“Don’t go there, Chelsea. I’m really not in the mood. Definitely not now.”
Chelsea propped her fists on her hips. “First of all, you can’t micro-manage Kimmie’s life. Some of what she does has to be her decision. You especially can’t dictate her life as an absentee father.”
“Sure. Throw my schedule in my face. Again. But, let me set you straight. As her father, I damn well can tell her what to do. She’s too young to know what’s best for her. You should know better, too.”
“Second of all, Garrett, I really don’t appreciate how you treat Penelope. I know she’s a bit liberal with her appearance and actions, but she’s a good person.”
“More like libertine.”
“She’s been there for me more than you can imagine.”
“I want you to stop divulging our personal business to her.”
“We’ve been friends since we were six. Who else am I supposed to talk to? You? You’re either working or …” The unfinished accusation hung between them.
“For the thousandth time, I swear there’s no woman but you. You’re the one I love and the one I come home to every night. But I can stop coming home, especially if it’s your intention to punish me forever.”
“What a talent you have for always making what you did my fault.”
“Look, I’m sorry for anything I’ve done in the past.” He wrapped her in his arms and kissed her forehead. “This wasn’t at all the entrance I’d planned. I’ve got some good news. Change that to great news. Dr. Logan asked me to replace him as department head. It’ll mean an extra quarter million a year for us.”
Chelsea’s body stiffened. “Is that the going rate for more time at work and less time with your family?”
“Just the opposite. I’m going to hire a radiologist to take over my shifts at my practice.” He pulled her closer. “There’s nothing and no one I care for more than my family. I don’t want anything to destroy what we have.”
The doorbell jangled. Garrett leaned back, a broad smile on his face. “I believe that’s for you, Chels.”
“What’s going on?”
“Let’s go find out.”
CHAPTER 17
Garrett covered Chelsea’s eyes once they reached the bottom of the stairs.
She tried to wriggle free. “What are you doing?”
“Keep walking. I’ll make sure you don’t bump into anything.” When they reached the front door, he said, “The knob’s about a foot in front of you.”
Chelsea felt for the knob, turned it, and opened the door to a man dressed in an expensive suit. He handed her a key and made a sweeping gesture at the silver Bentley behind him. “Happy Birthday, Mrs. Hall. We hope you enjoy driving your new car.”
Garrett said, “Her Mercedes is in the garage. The keys are under the mat by the driver’s seat.�
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The man nodded. “I’ll clear the space for you, sir. Ma’am.” He tipped a hat that wasn’t there and trotted to the open garage.
Garrett put an arm around Chelsea’s shoulders. “I know it’s a day early, but I couldn’t wait. I wanted you to feel special for your birthday tomorrow. I want you to feel special every day, because you are. I love you, babe.”
She hesitated then said, “I love you, too.”
Garrett let his arm drop to his side. Where was the anticipated screaming and jumping up and down, the hugs, the kisses, shouting for those inside to come see what her remarkable husband had gotten her? “You said this was your dream car. Did I make the wrong choice, choose the wrong color? We can exchange it, if you want.”
“No, Garrett. It’s the right one.”
“What’s wrong?”
She recalled his reason for giving her the full-length mink coat, the two-carat diamond earrings, and all the other expensive gifts he thought would make up for his wrongdoings. Chelsea gave him a small smile. “It’s nothing. I’m just stunned.”
“That’s a relief.” Garrett yelled for Kimberlie and Penelope. He took Chelsea in his arms. “This confirms I love you, yes?”
“It’s a confirmation, all right.”
CHAPTER 18
The footfalls clomping down the stairs meant it was time. Garrett dreaded having the conversation, but had to engage it—her. It was his obligation to do so. He held up a box of cereal, gave it a shake and asked, “Want some?”
Kimberlie, still in her pajamas, hair mussed and mascara smeared on her cheeks, shuffled to the middle of the kitchen. She plopped onto a stool at the counter and didn’t answer.
“I need to talk to you about what I did, Kimmie.”
She formed her lips into a pout and shrugged.
Garrett filled a bowl with cereal, added milk all the way to the top, and pushed it toward her. “Just the way you like it.” He slid a spoon to her.
Kimberlie picked up the spoon and poked at the contents of the bowl.
“I know you’re angry about what happened, but I had to do it. Boys who don’t demonstrate proper respect for you, or themselves, have no right to take you out, especially in public.”
