by Barbara Ebel
“Well, at least they knew about growing things. Thing is, my Daddy told me about the bad bugs in soil. I probably knew more about them there things before you went to the fancy institutes to learn it.” His sinewy hand scratched his sparse eyebrow. “And modern society and all this technology wouldn’t be anywhere if it weren’t for farmers. We put the food of vitamins and minerals and protein on their plates.”
Danny nodded his head in agreement. “And I, for one, thank you for it.”
A serious-looking orderly poked his head in. “I’m here to wheel Mr. Neal back to the O.R.” Tracy nodded and handed Troy a head bonnet from a box on the shelf.
“You’ve run a low grade temp on and off again the last day,” Danny said. “We’ll keep an eye on you post-op today and tomorrow but you should be out of here soon.”
At the counter, Danny pitched his residual cold coffee as Tracy handed the chart to the orderly. She caught Danny before he stepped away. “Dr. Tilson, how did Michael Johnson do?”
“No problems. He’s sleeping off anesthesia in the recovery room. It’s amazing the resilience of a young brain after trauma. He should bounce back just fine.”
Chapter 2
If Rachel were to draw up a list of her finest attributes other than her decadent figure, adaptability to any kind of situation would top the list. Despite even her best planning, circumstances had changed beyond her control, requiring an adjustment in direction. The trick to survival was to gain comforts with the least self-expenditure and to use your highest cards skillfully. Love played a slight role, too, only since she’d had a baby and developed a fondness for her own infant, the strength of which she hadn’t banked on.
Rachel liked to think of Julia as her own infant, especially after Dr. Danny Tilson paid her little child support those months he had been placed on a leave of absence. Thank goodness her attorney, Phil Beckett, had continual correspondence with Danny’s attorney and found out he was working again full time. Phil had litigated to increase the support ante to Rachel as the good doctor was back to a six-figure annual income. He even got her a retroactive raise to the first day Danny went back. Rachel could have kissed his nuts.
But it wasn’t Phil’s nuts on Rachel’s mind these days.
His name was Leo. Rachel had plenty of time off when arriving in Knoxville, having her baby, and getting used to motherhood, but she felt the money crunch. She hadn’t been able to keep the money she’d hoisted from Danny’s Einstein book either and she didn’t even have the merchandise to resell anymore.
Rachel took another surgical tech job, one ten-hour shift, for one day a week. It turned out that’s all she needed because she made headway with a pharmacist she met the second week on the job. Her milk-engorged breasts made her more voluptuous than ever. Leo, one of the hospital’s pharmacists, practically spilled his pills when he saw the gorgeous aqua-eyed OR tech walk in for a prescription.
Leo lived a modified single guy’s life. Already in his late thirties, he didn’t go through women as fast as he used to. Now he opted for only one woman at a time. Occasionally he would let more desirous ones live with him. Although his pad consisted of only a two bedroom, one story house with a finished basement on a half-acre, he’d gone through great pains to create the most lavish chick-magnet setting in the area he lived in. His front corridor had a ten-point buck’s head mounted on the wall, and without fail, he’d point to his expensive rifle display and brag about how that weapon was used to kill the sucker. Actually, he’d never gone hunting in his life, except for women.
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Friday afternoon drew to a close. Rachel had spent the entire day pampering herself and enjoying mother-baby time on the teakwood deck. Shacking up with Leo for the last two weeks had been a godsend … it suited all her purposes. She had no rent or major expenses, she made a bit from her job and banked most of Danny’s child support, and the surroundings for her and Julia proved opulent. Leo worked forty hours during the week and she sweated her shift on Saturdays, so she didn’t have to contend with him that often. He had a maid occasionally come in during the day as well.
After coming inside, Rachel placed her lemonade on a marble coaster. She lightly bounced Julia on her lap as she looked out the glass wall to the deck. She’d been careful not to be out too long in the heat and expose their fair skin to the sun. Looks and body came first, not only for herself, but for baby Julia as well. Julia gave a little squeal from the motion and waved her hands up and down.
Rachel heard the thud of a car door, the front door opened, and Leo strutted in. His medium height matched Rachel’s and he had a chiseled look with tight sharp facial features. He wore sweat above his lip, constant summer baggage he despised.
“You beat looking at prescription bottles,” he said, immediately spotting Rachel. His deep voice filled the high-ceilinged room.
Rachel put Julia on the floor. The baby sat up then tried haphazardly to perfect her crawl while Rachel continued to swivel her chair around and crossed her legs.
“I’m glad. You’d make a nice postcard, too. All’s well at work?” She snickered to herself regarding her last comment because she doubted filling prescriptions was an exciting job. It was Danny Tilson, the father of her baby, who did something far more challenging.
“Everything’s good as long as I fulfill the proper drugs and dosages into little containers and bags. But it’s not always as easy as it seems. I sent back a manufacturer’s entire lot of a diuretic today as the whole lot smelled counterfeit.” He walked closer to Rachel and slid his hand under her chin.
“Smelled counterfeit?” she inquired.
“Metaphorically speaking, that is.”
Rachel got up and their lips pressed. “It’s going to be a hell of a Friday night, isn’t it?” she asked, toying at the top button of his shirt.
“Sure is, especially after I take you out for a bottle of wine and quick bite.” He looked over at Julia who seemed inquisitive alongside a book rack on the floor. “Baby Julia won’t miss us. We’ll leave her here this time.”
“Leo,” she crooned. She thought quickly. She’d never left her baby alone before. “I don’t have a sitter, that won’t work.”
He nestled into her hair and pulled her closer. “Baby, your velvet voice is intoxicating.” He nudged her back and looked serious. “We’ll wait until she’s sleeping and slip out only for an hour.”
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The nightly ritual with Julia had gotten easier as Rachel had stopped breast feeding. She fed, diapered, and changed her, then placed her in the crib in the second bedroom making sure she pressed Julia’s sleeptime to later than normal. Julia gurgled and cooed but took only a few minutes to fall asleep. Rachel closed the door half-way, went to their bedroom and slipped on a violet dress complimented by open, short heels.
“Come on, big guy,” Rachel said, placing her hand on Leo’s shoulder at the bar in the great room.
Leo’s favorite local place where he had taken Rachel for their first date was Maxine’s. On that date, he recalled, he hadn’t even used a date-rape drug because she seemed naturally hot and easy to score.
Maxine’s bar took in more business than the number of table seats for patrons that it needed to qualify for a liquor license. There were always jumbo peanuts in jars at the bar and lots of ash trays. It was still a friendly place for tobacco users, for which Leo qualified. He’d cut back from chain smoking by necessity because of the abstinence he had to endure while working.
“Come on, baby,” Leo said, grabbing Rachel’s hand and steering her to the bar.
“Let’s sit at a table, Leo.”
“It’ll be quicker up here.” He wrapped his arm around her shoulders to keep her moving forward. “The sooner we get a drink and some of Maxine’s ribs, the faster we get back, you check on Julia, and we get it on,” he whispered.
Rachel narrowed her eyes with approval.
“What’ll it be, Leo?” asked one of the usual college bartenders.
“We’ll take two big plates of ribs, slaw, fries and two beers to start with.” Leo lit a cigarette and took a big drag.
Rachel gestured with her hand. “Skip the beer for me, Leo, I’ve got to work tomorrow. I’m not going to drink a thing tonight, especially if Julia wakes up during the night.”
He blew a bit of smoke from the side of his mouth where the air borne circles gravitated towards his early thinning hair. His hair was slicked over by gel which, like lubricant, was one of his favorite tools.
“Don’t forget, Leo, you’ve got Julia tomorrow. I really appreciate it. You’re not a bad stand in father.”
“Don’t call me that Rachel. I’m not too happy when she cries or when she’s not sleeping.”
“Leo!”
“Just kidding.” He looked charmingly into her striking eyes and then followed down to her cleavage. He paused to inhale while his beer arrived.
“Working one day,” she said, “does a lot to keep my resume viable for the future and my options open. And it’s really no sweat on either of us. You know I would have gotten a sitter for tomorrow if you had asked me to.”
Leo turned slowly to her. “Depends on what she would have looked like.”
“She could have been pretty, but a thousand babysitters couldn’t handle you like I do. And there’s no competition when it comes to looks or brains.”
Leo popped peanuts into his mouth while the platter of ribs and sides were set before them. “Thanks,” Leo said. He looked at Rachel. “You’re right about that. It’s what made me step up the quality of my women in the last few years. There are gorgeous women everywhere. It becomes more challenging when there are more synapses in their brains.”
“Don’t go talking like a neurosurgeon.”
“Why? Do neurosurgeons have something to do with your past?”
Rachel looked away for a second.
“We haven’t known each other that long,” he said, “and I haven’t intimidated you with questions … yet. Don’t tell me that guy you’re getting monthly checks from is a high-roller? Not some dumb-ass pharmacist?”
Rachel kept her dissatisfaction with his comments from showing. “Leo, you’re far from dumb. You’ve done well for yourself.”
He picked up a saucy rib and chewed off a chunk of meat. He wiped his fingers on a napkin and turned to her.
“You didn’t answer my question.”
“Yeah, he’s a neurosurgeon, a thing of the past.”
“Not for your daughter. Guess you know how to pick ‘em, babe.”
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Rachel breathed a sigh of relief when they got back. Julia was sleeping soundly, which made her eyelids flutter like a butterfly as if in a big dream. Rachel placed her hand on Julia’s head and stroked her fine light hair. The baby stirred but contentedly settled again. “Sleep through the night, baby Julia.”
In the bedroom, Rachel dropped off her dress, removed her underwear and shoes, and put on a long tee-shirt, as sexy a look for her as a negligee. Leo’s bedroom and bath were her favorite places in the whole house. For a guy, he had taste with a matching bedspread and shams, and the mattress was like sleeping on clouds. Each wall had a large painting; she believed he had artistic knowledge because they varied from far-out modern to photographic realism. When he wasn’t around, she would bask in his luxury whirlpool tub and then pamper her skin with organic moisturizer.
She laid out a few things for the morning. She’d been slotted to tech for the general surgery room, whether elective or emergency and there wouldn’t be any surprises as far as staying over after her shift. Leaving Julia with Leo had worked out fine, but his minding her routinely on Saturdays would soon change. The lawyers were arranging some weekend visitation with Danny, starting next weekend if everyone agreed.
After turning out the larger overhead light, Rachel switched on a table lamp, a figurine of a man and woman wrapped around each other. She slid under the covers and closed her eyes for a minute. Leo always spent time on his computer at night, but she knew she’d see him soon based on his remarks at Maxine’s. She didn’t mind his sexual appetite, especially since she was a bit of a tramp herself.
Through the doorway, the lights went off from the great room, and Leo’s dim figure appeared in the bedroom. Rachel turned on her side as he walked hurriedly into the bathroom, unbuttoning his shirt along the way. He came out naked but she lost him when he went around the bed and climbed in under the sheet behind her. His arms circled her. His biceps were hidden gems under his shirts; although they weren’t huge, they were hard like rocks.
Rachel went to turn but Leo tightened his arms. He playfully bit her neck. “Like a tigress waiting to be tamed,” he said. “You can let me do all the work tonight.”
Rachel went to turn again as his arms slipped down to her hips. “Whoever said it’s work, Leo? It’s all pleasure.”
His breathing increased next to her ear while his hardness stiffened between her cheeks. “That’s perfect then.” He pulled her closer.
“But Leo, I don’t like it that way.” Rachel gathered a bit of momentum to move forward.
“You haven’t had it done to you by an expert, that’s all.” Leo’s grip tightened on her hips. He reined her in as close as he needed and then he did the rest.
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Rachel jolted awake when her watch alarm sounded. Without disturbing Leo, she got ready and marched gingerly to the kitchen for a bottle. Her bottom didn’t feel too comfortable. Damn Leo, she thought. That was nervy of him last night. She fed and changed Julia and placed her back in the crib. Rachel toyed with her small hand while Julia’s eyes twinkled back. “See you later,” Rachel said. When Rachel left, Julia looked like a content kitten.
Three hours later, Leo opened his eyes to sunshine and quiet. He silently thanked the stupid stars for weekends. He slipped into slippers and jockey shorts and went to the kitchen, microwaved some water, and spooned instant coffee into the cup. He took a few steps to the other bedroom where Julia babbled in her crib, but he made sure he wasn’t seen. They’d get along fine as long as she didn’t need anything from him for awhile.
Leo turned on his big flat-screen TV, grabbed his coffee, cigarettes, and yesterday’s newspaper, and sat in his recliner, immersed for another two hours. He finally got up, dressed, and picked up Julia and put her in the high chair. After picking out a pureed baby fruit jar from Rachel’s few things in the closet, he fed her like Rachel had instructed. He considered it his good deed for the day because he’d rather be out looking for a new car. He placed her on the rug with a bottle while he went to fix a hinge on a cabinet, and go through mail and paperwork.
Leo finally opened a new pack of cigarettes but didn’t light up when he spied Julia on the floor. He picked her up and carried her to the bedroom where he begrudgingly changed her diaper and left her there for a nap. Back at his desk, he went over his credit card statement. The charges flowed over to the second page but nothing appeared out of the ordinary. He decided to calculate the last six month’s expenses to figure out if he could afford a new sixty-thousand dollar car. Better to lease, buy-outright, or find a low interest loan?
He lit up the cigarette he should have smoked thirty minutes ago. Outside, a wind kicked-up and the leaf-heavy trees swayed. He leaned backwards in his chair, dragged on his smoke, and appreciated his built-in desk alcove facing the yard. With the same long glass windows as most of the back of the house, the desk area had been his idea. He had chosen the perfect contractor to build him his little work station without interfering with the central beauty of the big room.
Inside the guest bedroom, Julia started to cry. It abruptly broke into Leo’s silence. He took another drag and peered down onto his pad of paper where he tried to make the numbers stretch to his advantage. Within a few more minutes, he let out a sigh. Julia’s crying rant had gotten worse.
When Leo pushed back his chair, he mashed out his cigarette with an expletive. He hu
rried to the bedroom. “You have to shut up,” he said, looming over the crib. Julia’s face got redder as she cried. Leo picked her up, held her on his chest for a few seconds, but it made no difference. He placed her back in the crib. Her crying pitched louder. He walked out faster than he had come in and sat back down in his chair. Now, however, the noise coming from Julia’s room was screaming, not crying.
“Fuck this,” Leo said and ran to the bedroom. He placed both his hands along the sides of Julia’s chest and dragged both thumbs over the bottom of her breast plate. An anatomic thought came to him, despite the fact that he wasn’t thinking so well over a damned baby’s screaming. He pushed down with his thumbs. He felt a snap. Julia pitched a wail that sounded like a pain-stricken animal’s plea.
Back at the desk, Leo started another smoke. Now his silence would never return. The crying was louder and sounded more terrifying. Give it something else to cry about, he thought, to make it go to sleep. He pulled on his cigarette and exhaled a cloud. Smoking should be one of life’s pleasures. He studied the red glow at the end of his cigarette.
Leo tried an old trick and counted to ten. Why should he be counting to ten in his own house anyway? At ten, he jolted out of his chair and stormed to the bedroom. Not without his cigarette.
Julia’s face was beat-red. Her face looked crumpled and aged. Leo grabbed her right arm after putting the railing down. He jerked it up, took a second to choose the area, and lightly pressed the tip of his cigarette. For a second, Julia’s face lapsed into horrific surprise, and then an even louder scream pierced his eardrums. Leo felt rage. He whipped off her diaper, grabbed her legs up with his left hand, and ground out the cigarette in her buttocks.
Chapter 3
After Danny’s two morning cases, he arrived at the office to an overflow of patients. Some days the predictability of a schedule proved useless. One of his patients even requested that he see his wife because she came along and had never seen a doctor about her migraine headaches. They were convinced she had a tumor and thought they could fit in two appointments instead of one. It wasn’t convenient for his other patients who were killing time in the waiting room.
