Doctored

by K'Anne Meinel

  “I haven’t yet begun to spoil them,” she defended herself. “By the way, the furniture arrived.”

  “Well, don’t set it up until I get there.”

  “Oh, too late.”

  “But we wanted to paint, or did you forget?”

  “What do you think I did after you left? I had to keep myself busy somehow.” She was laughing, but also telling the truth. The house had reeked of fresh paint for days and keeping the animals out of the rooms had been a hassle. She was certain Spot was learning how to turn the latches on doors. It wouldn’t surprise her. He was that smart, and he was teaching Fluffy some bad habits. He was also keeping Fluffy in line on some levels. The two of them would probably gang up on their humans when they were all together.

  “So the rooms are painted and the furniture is all in?” she asked excitedly. She was looking forward to seeing them.

  “Yep, and I found some stickers, but I didn’t put them on Chloe’s bed, that’s her job. Besides, I thought we could shop for some more.”

  “Isn’t Roman getting a bit jealous about all this attention you give them and all the things you are buying for my kids?”

  “He’s not like that. I think he is the least material kid I have ever known. Maybe it was the few years we spent in the jungle, but he’s great,” she bragged. “I like him…I’ll keep him,” she teased.

  “That’s too funny. Babe, I hate to cut this off, but I’m so tired…” she said as she yawned. These late night chats were so warm and cozy, but she was looking forward to when they could be in person. She wanted to start their life together.

  “Yeah, me too. Good night, baby. I love you,” she said in a seductive tone.

  “Oh sure, start that NOW,” she teased and then, “I love you too…Good night.”

  Neither of them wanted to hang up the phone. It was like being teenagers all over again, although Deanna had never had this. She loved every moment of it. Finally, they both realized they had to work the next day and hung up the phone.

  * * * * *

  ‘I got an offer,’ Madison texted Deanna excitedly.

  ‘On the house?’

  ‘No, on the kids…lol…yes, silly, on the house.’

  ‘Is it a decent one?’

  ‘I think so. It’s five over asking.’

  ‘Maybe you should see if they up the offering?’

  Madison laughed at the mistype. Deanna had been doing so much better at texting these days, but still made some funny mistakes. ‘Maybe,’ she texted back.

  * * * * *

  The last two days, Madison was so busy she was unable to take phone calls, especially at work. The delay almost cost her another offer that came in. It was even better than the first one and she accepted, contingent on the first bidders being advised that a counter offer was in the offing. A small bidding war went on while she was finishing her last shift at the hospital. The staff gave her a nice cake and a going away present, and by the time she had finished working her last day at the hospital, she had also sold her house. She was excited. As she turned in her identification and went to leave the hospital for the last time, Bonnie called to her.

  “Telephone,” she pointed at the blinking line.

  “Don’t you know? I no longer work here,” she called back.

  “Is that what you want me to tell them?” She still wondered where Madison was going, but no one had gotten it out of her. The speculation was rampant.

  “Yep! Goodbye! Goodbye!” she called to those who saw her leaving. She was so happy she felt like she was floating. Tonight was the last night in her house. The realtor was coming by for her to sign the final papers now that it was sold. She couldn’t believe it had sold in a little over two weeks, but apparently the market was hot. She wondered if she would have gotten more if she had held out a little longer, but she was anxious to get out and get home to Deanna. She missed her far too much and only the thought that she would be in her arms tomorrow kept her going. She’d been counting the days and now mere hours separated them.

  Once home, she went through the empty cupboards, closets, and checked things for the umpteenth time, looking for things that weren’t there anymore, hadn’t been there for weeks. She couldn’t help but impulsively check again and again, certain she would forget something and leave it behind. But after two weeks, she knew there wasn’t anything left. It was all moved out; they had been thorough. She and the children would spend one last night in this tiny house before they moved into the bigger house in Santa Barbara. If they needed to visit Los Angeles and stay over, the Kearney home—the Chateau—would be available to them. Madison sometimes felt overwhelmed by everything and it hadn’t even started yet.

  The children were home when she got there and she told them about the sale. They were happy even if they didn’t quite comprehend it. They were looking forward to seeing their dog, Dr. D, and Roman…in that order. Even Spot was on their list of things they were looking forward to. They also wanted to try out the pool in their new home. Their needs were a lot simpler than Madison’s.

  There was a knock on the door and Madison went to let the realtor in. “Hello,” he greeted her. “Ready to sign a few hundred times?” he teased.

  “Ready and willing. Is it always that frantic?”

  “Well, when they bid like that and they want the place that much, yeah,” he smiled. No, it didn’t happen like that, not often, but he was happy that it had sold so quickly. There were rumors that an altercation happened in this neighborhood not that long ago and the police were called. He didn’t want such rumors to hurt his sales of homes in this area. He had her documents all ready for her—a yellow arrow next to where she had to sign, which was removed after every signature was taken care of. He explained what each and every section meant and why she was signing. She’d had an inspection—the inspector went through one day while she was at work—and the buyers had signed off on their own inspection. Everything was in order and the money would be in escrow. Within a few weeks the house would transfer over. “Well, that’s it,” he said with a smile as the kids started acting up. He was relieved to get out before they interrupted his work. “Thank you very much,” he shook her hand, and after a few more words they parted. He put the documents in his briefcase and left.

  “Ms. MacGregor?” a voice startled her as she let the realtor out.

  “Yes, I’m Ms. MacGregor,” she confirmed, wondering who the young man was on her doorstep.

  “I have a package for you,” he told her. “Would you sign here, please?” He held out a clipboard and pointed at a line.

  With a puzzled frown, Madison signed and then he handed her a manila envelope that bulged oddly. “What is this?” she murmured, opening it. Out slid a set of car keys and the title to a vehicle. She looked up at the young man who stood there smiling.

  “We parked it right there,” he said, pointing to a brand new minivan. “If you want, I can help you transfer your things over to your new van?” he offered.

  “What? Transfer…?” she was dazed.

  He smiled, hoping she was understanding him. He could see she was stunned. “That van there,” he said slowly, “is your new van…and if you wish to dispose of your old van…I can help you transfer your things over. I also have a check here if you care to sign over the title of your old vehicle to me. A Doctor Kearney,” he consulted his clipboard, “arranged it, if you are okay with it?” he asked, worriedly, but he was confident she would be. Who turned down a free minivan?

  “Doctor Kearney what?” she asked dumbly as it all began to penetrate and then hit her all at once. Deanna had purchased her a new van! Why that sneaky…she smiled. “Why, yes, you can help me move my things over. And yes, I would like to see that check you have there,” she told him. She didn’t care how much it was. She would have donated it to a church otherwise and now she didn’t have to. Deanna was taking care of her and her family. She turned back into the house. “Kids, come out here,” she called.

  “What is it?” they both a
sked as they came to the door.

  “Doctor D bought us a new van and we need to move our things over from the old van,” she told them excitedly. They immediately caught the excitement and began to run towards the new van to look at it.

  Between the delivery guy, the kids, and Madison, they soon had the few things she kept in the van put away in the new one. He checked under the seats, under the mats, in the glove compartment, and even behind the sun visors for anything they might have left. He handed her a check after she handed him a signed registration paper. She was excited about the new van and couldn’t wait to call Deanna and share her excitement. Then she got an idea.

  “Kids,” she called and they came over once they finished climbing over the seats and the backs of everything.

  “Fluffy is going to love that thing,” Chloe promised.

  “So is your mom,” Madison teased. “Do you think you can help me move a few pieces of furniture?” she asked.

  “Why?” Conor asked.

  “I thought if we could move it ourselves, pick up our clothes, and clean out the fridge, we could leave for Santa Barbara tonight and surprise Dr. D and Roman. I kind of miss them.”

  “Me too,” Chloe agreed wholeheartedly.

  “Me too,” Conor echoed his sister.

  Between the three of them they loaded the few pieces that Madison couldn’t bear to part with: a table her grandmother had given her, a whatnot that fit in a corner, which she could already imagine in the den of the new house, and a few other pieces. Next they loaded their suitcases and the last of the food and they were packed. She took one more look through the empty cabinets and closets, stripped the beds, and they were ready to go. Madison left her keys on the counter in the kitchen, ready for the new owners. The realtors had keys too so she wouldn’t be needing them anymore. She was ready to try out her new van. She plugged her phone into the outlet in the car…how handy and how modern! She hadn’t called Deanna yet; she was hoping she was working late so she could surprise her.

  * * * * *

  They had just gotten on the 101 heading for Ventura and had hit their first traffic pileup when the phone rang. Thinking it was Deanna, Madison picked it up without looking at the caller I.D. “Hello?” she said in a chirpy voice, feeling good.

  “About time you answered that durn thing,” her mother’s voice came through the line.

  Madison nearly groaned aloud. She should have known her mother wouldn’t give up trying to reach her.

  “Hello, Mother,” she said formally.

  “Where have you been? I’ve been trying to reach you. Your brother and sister have tried too! I even called that hospital today and they told me you no longer work there! What is going on out there? Have you lost your mind? Are Scott’s parents right that you had him arrested again?”

  Madison thought about hanging up, she really did; however, that might not stop her mother. She had to berate her; it was in her nature. She also thought of letting her yell until she lost steam, but neither option was going to work. Her mother expected answers, so Madison waited until she paused long enough to take a breath and then started answering the many questions being thrown at her.

  “I’ve been busy working. I’ve just come off nearly a two-week stint. I know you’ve been trying to reach me, I got the phone messages, but I was working and couldn’t return the calls…with the time difference it was impossible. Yes, I know they were calling too,” she answered, in reference to her siblings. “I just didn’t have time to call back. And yes, I quit my job at the hospital. I have a better job in a private clinic. I’ve sold my house and I’m moving up to Santa Barbara.” She knew that would get back to Scott’s parents and to Scott himself. She hadn’t bothered to contact him—she had attorneys who handled such stuff for her now.

  “Is it true what Scott says, that you’re involved with some dyke doctor out there?” she asked in a horrified, gossipy manner.

  After everything Madison had overcome to escape the gossip at the hospital, the way she had allowed what people thought to imprison her for so long, she wasn’t going to let her mother talk that way about anyone…and especially not Deanna. She loved Deanna and wasn’t going to stand for it. “How dare you?” she barked back, her voice rising. The kids were using the new headsets that had come with the van and couldn’t hear her. They were in the back seat watching a movie that had been on the seat for them. Deanna had thought of everything. A screen flipped down and they were absorbed in watching the DVD.

  “Deanna is the most generous woman I have ever met and if you are going to talk that way about her, you and I have NOTHING to say to each other,” she threatened.

  “Don’t you talk to me like that, young lady,” she started, trying to keep Madison in her place.

  “I’m a middle-aged woman, Mother. When you can talk to me with respect, and realize I am an adult making adult choices, then you can talk to me. Until then, we have nothing to say,” she said angrily in return. She refused to be cowed.

  “But…but…she’s a woman,” she gasped.

  “She’s also a world-respected doctor,” she countered with a laugh, knowing her mother might someday grasp that, maybe even brag about it. “I love her, and until you accept that, I want nothing to do with you. I don’t wish to be contacted by any of you if that’s the attitude you are going to have. Until you talk to me in a tone that isn’t accusing or criticizing of me, I don’t wish to speak with you or anyone in the family.”

  “But we’re your family…” she began. Her tone was changing. She wasn’t used to being spoken to in this manner.

  “I made my own family, Mother. You choose to believe Scott’s parents rather than hear the truth from your own daughter? Are you aware he attacked me? Are you aware he attacked others? His temper is his downfall and he can no longer see his own children without supervision. He did this…he did…not me…and not Doctor Kearney. He is responsible for his own actions and I refuse to take the rap for him. I’m raising my children and I refuse to raise him too!”

  She was on a roll. Many of these things had built up over the years. She had always been accepting of the status quo, but she wasn’t willing to take it anymore.

  “I’m an adult. When you and the family learn to accept that, then we can talk. Until then, don’t call me again. I’m starting my new life with my new family and your bigotry and attitude aren’t welcome!” With that, she hung up the phone. Her heart was beating hard. She could hear her pulse in her ears. She glanced back in the child mirror, attached below the rearview mirror, and saw both kids were still watching the movie. She was glad they weren’t aware of the conversation that had just taken place.

  She rolled down the window a little, pressing a button instead of using a hand crank. That was a luxury she hadn’t expected to ever have. She tried to forget the awful conversation she had just had with her mother and just enjoy her new van. She felt positively decadent in it. The new car smell was prevalent and it was so clean. She was determined to see it stay that way for as long as she could, but with children and a dog it might be hard. She saw in the children’s mirror that Conor had put his feet up against her seat. Her arm snaked around behind her and she batted his feet to the floor. He looked up, startled, and sat up so his feet weren’t an issue anymore. She wondered if he thought she had eyes in the back of her head since he hadn’t noticed the mirror. She laughed to herself.

  * * * * *

  She pressed in the code to their gate. Their gate…that reality felt so odd. She had never lived behind a gate, but this was a nice community they were living in and it felt wonderful as the gate swung slowly open. Deanna told her she had gotten remote openers for the gate and one was waiting for her at the house. She was smiling as she drove up their drive and parked in front of the garage. She looked up at the house, eagerly anticipating seeing Deanna again.

  The garage door swung open before she or the kids could get to it.

  “Madison,” Deanna gasped as she opened her arms and the redhead walke
d right into them. They hugged, hard, as they rocked there. “You are a sight for sore eyes,” she told her as tears streamed out of her blue eyes. She cupped both sides of Madison’s face as she kissed her fervently. “I have missed you so much!” she told her.

  “I love you! I couldn’t wait one more minute,” she told her as she hugged her back, hard. “I love you,” she whispered against the blonde’s lips.

  Deanna looked over Madison’s shoulder. “You got the van,” she said joyfully.

  “You sneak, you,” Madison teased.

  “I told you,” she said quietly. “I want to take care of you. We needed a van for all these ruffians,” she indicated the two children who were waiting to greet her, and spying Roman, she pulled all three kids in for a group hug. “I missed you guys!” she told them exuberantly.

  “Can we use the pool this time?” Conor asked as he squirmed to get away.

  “Yes, and you can use anything in our house you want, but you have to ask an adult first so that we know what you are doing, okay?” She got him to promise. “Guess what,” she asked as she let them all go, her question directed at Madison’s kids.

  “What?” they asked together.

  “Your bedrooms are ready and waiting for you,” she whispered, as though telling them a big secret.

  “Really?” Chloe squealed.

  “Can we go, Mom?” Conor nearly shouted.

  “Go on. We can empty the van tomorrow,” she told them, smiling at their exuberance. She had her arm around Deanna and they watched together, smiling, as the three children took off up the stairs.

  “What do you have in this van of yours?” Deanna teased her.

  “Our van has some furniture and some groceries,” she told her and leaned in for a kiss, unable to get enough of them. She found such comfort in them. She’d missed her so much.

  Deanna hugged Madison so tight to her body she lifted her up, squeezing her mercilessly.

  “Wait, wait,” she gasped. “I can’t breathe.”