Beacon Hill Beauties (Siren Publishing Allure)

by Denise Hereford

  “You wouldn’t believe how many people injure themselves in their bathroom. At least it’s not a hip,” said Dr. Collins. He talked directly to Kimmie about Sally.

  “Oh, I know,” replied Kimmie, who rubbed her hip.

  “She is going to need an X-ray. I’ll get the nurse to come when we’re ready for her. In the meantime, if we could just get her information…”

  “Sure. My number will be the emergency contact number.” Kimmie winked.

  Dr. Collins nodded. “Great. I’ll be back after the X-ray.”

  “Okay,” Kimmie and Sally responded at the same time. Sally rolled her eyes at Kimmie after the doctor left.

  “Really, Kimmie?” asked Sally. “You’re engaged.”

  “You’re right. I’ll stop. But he was wicked hot!” exclaimed Kimmie as she fanned herself with her manicured hands.

  The nurse came over and wheeled Sally to the X-ray table. Sally lay on her back for one image, then the nurse turned her ankle over to get another image. “Ouch!” Sally said. The underside of her ankle was already bruised purple and her lower leg and foot were swollen. The nurse rolled Sally back into the holding room where the young ladies waited.

  Dr. Collins returned after what seemed an eternity. “Okay, ladies. I have good news and bad news. Bad news first?”

  Kimmie looked at Sally this time. “Sure,” acquiesced Sally.

  “Bad news is you have an oblique hairline fracture of your fibula. It is the small bone next to the tibula, the main bone.”

  “Whoa, doc. English, please,” interjected Kimmie. Dr. Collins smiled at Kimmie.

  “Your friend here needs a cast for about six weeks,” Dr. Collins pointed to the X-ray.

  “Oh. She broke it,” cried Kimmie.

  “Okay. Can you all please stop talking about me in third person already?” protested Sally. “And I’m the one who should be crying here.”

  Kimmie wiped away a tear. “Don’t worry, Sal. I’m gonna take care of you.” Sally couldn’t help but hug her best friend and forgive her narcissism.

  “What’s the good news?” asked Sal.

  “The good news is that it’s not displaced, so you can avoid surgery at this point,” reiterated Dr. Collins.

  “No surgery, please,” decided Sally. She felt so stupid. How in the world did she break her bone just from a slip? Then she remembered jarring it against the ceramic toilet. Yup, that must have done it.

  Chapter Sixteen

  After the nurses put her cast on, Kimmie rolled her friend out of the hospital and left the wheelchair up front for the nurse. Then, the best friends went to a drugstore nearby and picked up Sally’s painkillers and crutches.

  “I heard crutches are a bitch,” said Kimmie as she watched Sally take her first steps in them.

  “Yeah, thanks,” said Sally sarcastically. “I’m a total gimp now.” Sally couldn’t believe how awkward walking with crutches was. She felt immediate sympathy for anybody who couldn’t walk on their own two feet.

  Kimmie helped Sally back up her apartment steps, which was tricky because of the bricks. “Here. Prop your crutches and grab the rail,” suggested Kimmie.

  It worked. “Thanks.” Sally smiled. She was most worried about the steps.

  “You want me to stay with you tonight?” asked Kimmie.

  “No. Actually, I need to learn how to live with this on my own for at least a month. So I better get started,” figured Sally.

  “Are you sure, Sal?” asked Kimmie.

  “I’m sure,” said Sally. “At least I don’t have a job where I have to drive anywhere. And I’ve got enough food for at least a week.”

  “All right,” said Kimmie. “But I’m coming over every day to check on you. How about at lunchtime?”

  “That would be really great, Kimmie.” Sally nodded, extremely grateful for Kimmie’s offer.

  “Sal, I know this sucks, but don’t worry. You’ll heal in no time,” assured Kimmie. “Call me if you need anything. Take it easy, okay? I’ll check on you tomorrow,” she said before she walked back to her apartment.

  “Okay, thanks,” said Sally. She looked around her apartment and saw things on the floor that might trip her while she used the crutches. At least she didn’t have a lot of ground to cover.

  Slowly, Sally learned how to propel her cast forward and then her strong leg. Her underarms already felt sore from the crutches, so she reset the height an inch higher than her official height. That seemed to help, even though she did not know if the doctor would approve.

  Sally also quickly realized how difficult it was to get things out of the fridge, make a meal, and get said meal to a place where she could eat it. Her ankle and lower leg throbbed, so she took her painkiller.

  She managed to slowly seat herself in a lawn chair she barely fit into her unbelievably small shower. She put a large black lawn bag over her white cast. The chair leaned halfway out of the shower. She thought she might fall out and break her hip. Then what would Dr. Collins have to say about that?

  After she showered and managed to rinse out at least half of her conditioner, she slipped on her nightgown. She hobbled over to her bed and fell asleep with her cast raised above a pillow. She couldn’t stand the suffocating sensation of the comforter on top of her cast, so she threw a sheet over the casted leg.

  In the morning, the cast felt restricting and held heat, so she put on a skirt instead of pants. Sally changed her mind about not telling Dominick about her injury. She dialed the code for South Africa and Dominick’s phone number from memory.

  “Hullo, Sally?” answered Dominick. Apparently, he remembered her number as well.

  “Hi, Dominick. How are you? Are you busy?” asked Sally.

  “No, I’m great. It’s fantastic to hear your voice,” said Dominick. “How are you?”

  “Well, I fractured a bone near my ankle and I’m in a cast. But I don’t need surgery and should be good in about six weeks,” said Sally. She tried to sound strong and hoped she didn’t sound completely pathetic.

  “Oh, sweetheart. How bloody awful. I wish I was there to take care of you,” said Dominick. “I have this acquisition and need to be here at least the rest of July. Otherwise, I’d be on a plane right now.”

  “Don’t worry. I’ll be okay. Kimmie is going to check on me every day,” Sally reassured Dominick.

  Dominick imagined Kimmie trying to take care of Sally and got even more anxious. “You mean she’s going to do your hair and make-up?” he joked.

  “No, silly. I can at least do those things for myself. But I am learning how to use these stupid crutches in tight quarters. There are a lot of things to lean on when I’m hopping around.”

  “Ah. You have those American crutches you wear under your armpits. The forearm crutches are easier. Just be really careful, Sally,” Dominick cautioned. “You really need to get some assistance. Maybe a maid?”

  “Lest you forget, I’m just a commoner,” reminded Sally.

  “Well, so am I. I’m not royal,” defended Dominick.

  “No, your family just happens to own a diamond mine.”

  “Or two, soon,” admitted Dominick. “You do know how much I want to be there for you?”

  “I wish you were here, but then maybe it is best you don’t see me like this. It’s not pretty.”

  “Hmm, I doubt it. You probably look adorable in your cast,” surmised Dominick.

  “It’s going to get dirty and dingy. The only thing good about it is I can knock it around and not worry.” Sally knocked on her cast. “It’s really hard.”

  “Well, make sure you contact me if you need anything, Sally. I will let my secretary Nadia know she can interrupt me at any time. Just say the word urgent, and I’m here for you.”

  “I do have something urgent to tell you,” said Sally.

  “If it is anything like the last conversation we had, I am all ears,” mused Dominick.

  “I want you to finish whatever is you’re working on there. Don’t fly out here and lose m
illions over me. It’s not worth it.”

  “Oh, but you are worth it, to me. My family, on the other hand, does depend on me, regrettably. Let’s just say I want them to still like you when they finally get to meet you,” explained Dominick.

  “I understand. Maybe I’ll get a lot of writing done.”

  “That’s it! Throw yourself into your work. But don’t forget to call me every now and then.”

  “I’ll start charging by the minute,” warned Sally.

  Dominick chuckled. “Sally, I was hoping you would fly down here next month. But now I shall have to fly back up to Boston again to see you before you’re a castaway.”

  Sally laughed. “I miss you.”

  “I miss you, too, darling,” replied Dominick.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Before Gabriel stepped inside the stall to take a shower, he noticed he had a text from Dominick to call him back.

  “Hey, what’s up?” asked Gabriel.

  “Gabe, I have to tell you something. Sally fractured her lower leg above her ankle,” explained Dominick. He was so worried about Sally and wished he could be there to take care of her. And as much as he didn’t want to think about Gabriel and Sally together, Dominick had to trust his cousin would do the right thing and help Sally through this difficult time.

  “That’s terrible,” said Gabriel. “Wait. How do you know this? Did she call you?”

  “Yes, um, we were actually planning a surprise for your birthday.” Dominick hated lying. He had to tell Gabriel sooner or later that he and Sally were a couple. But not now, not when Sally would need a man’s help. Sally had no brothers, and her parents were retired and living in an RV park in northern California.

  “Oh, I see.” Gabriel took the bait. His birthday was the following week.

  “Look, she needs you,” Dominick admitted with defeat. The acquisition of another mine would take at least two weeks to complete. As he told Sally, he wasn’t free to fly anywhere.

  Gabriel sat on the toilet. “Okay. I’ve got it. I’ll send over our help. And of course I’ll check, too.”

  Dominick was really impressed by his cousin’s generous thinking. “That sounds perfect, man. I’m sure Sally would appreciate it.”

  “Wait. Did she really say she needed me?” whispered Gabriel.

  “What?” asked Dominick, unable to make out what Gabriel said. The reception was not always the best from thousands of miles away.

  “Don’t worry about it. I will take care of this,” replied Gabriel in a business-like tone before he hung up the phone.

  Way below the equator, Dominick hung up the phone. He put his head in his hands. He hoped with all of his heart he did the right thing for Sally. He didn’t want to be selfish, but he also didn’t want to lose her to his cousin.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Kimmie let herself into Sally’s apartment at lunchtime. Sally had passed out on her daybed, her cast propped up on a pillow. Her laptop remained turned on and cups rested everywhere. Kimmie quietly put the cups in the sink and tidied up.

  Sally finally woke up when Kimmie grabbed the laptop beside her.

  “Hey, it’s me. You all right?” asked Kimmie.

  “Oh, shit. Did I save it?” Sally panicked and grabbed the laptop. She hit save and closed the computer. “I’m okay. Thanks for coming over, Kimmie.”

  “Of course,” said Kimmie. She wore a white tank top with a black skirt. The beautiful black lingerie bra showed through the tank top, which Sally realized was the point.

  “I’m a mess,” said Sally. “I think I’m already castrophobic.”

  “Haha. You made a funny,” replied Kimmie. “I brought lunch from American Joe’s. I got you the clam chowder in a bread bowl.”

  “Oh, thank you, Kimmie. You’re the best.” Sally relished her thick chowder as Kimmie picked at her salad with no dressing.

  “So did you tell Mr. South Africa what happened?” wondered Kimmie as they sat on the bed with Kimmie and ate.

  “Yes. He wishes he could fly up here but he’s tied down with business. He says he’ll come before I get the cast removed.”

  “Well, I should hope so.” Kimmie took a purple marker out of her purse and approached Sally’s cast.

  “What are you doing?” Sally held her hand up.

  “What does it look like? I’m gonna sign your cast,” declared Kimmie.

  Sally shook her head. “I’m sorry, Kimmie. I even told Dominick I don’t want anybody signing the cast. It will just look more dirty and dingy.”

  “You’re being a priss,” complained Kimmie. She put her marker back in her purse.

  “No, really. Writing all over it just makes it worse,” explained Sally.

  “I worry about you sometimes,” said Kimmie.

  “We all have issues,” confessed Sally as she scraped and scooped the inside of the bread bowl into her chowder. The only thing better would be fried clams from The Clam Box by the shore. She wondered how long it would be until she walked in the sand again by the ocean. “But what would I do without you?” She leaned over and gave Kimmie a hug.

  “Well, one of these days you’re gonna write a bestseller, and I’m going to be all wrinkled, and then you can cater my crippled ass,” declared Kimmie.

  “I cannot imagine your ass crippled.” Sally frowned.

  “That reminds me,” said Kimmie, rubbing her own behind. “I have to go to the gym. You need me to get you anything?”

  “No, I’m fine now. But tomorrow, could you please pick me up some water bottles and yogurt from DeLuca’s?”

  “Sure, no problem. I’ll call you tonight,” said Kimmie. She gave Sally a big hug.

  “Thanks again, Kimmie.”

  “Don’t mention it. Text or call if you need me.” And Kimmie rushed out the door to head to the gym beside the Kennedy building.

  Sally used her crutches like chopsticks to place her food in the trash can. She felt it was easier than getting up and going back and forth with one item at a time. She sniffed her hair. It still smelled good enough to wait until the next day to wash it.

  Buzz! Sally wondered who that could be. If it was Kimmie, she would just let herself back in. As for Dominick, he might as well have been in outer space.

  Sally put both crutches together to help herself up and then crutched over to the intercom. “Who is it?”

  “It’s Gabe.” Gabe knew he was taking another risk, but he really felt it was his chivalrous duty to help her. Even his cousin approved.

  “Coming,” said Sally. I’m gonna have to go down the stairs and let him in. Does he realize what a literal pain that is? Then she hobbled slowly down the steps to the main door.

  Gabriel frowned and waved at the sight of Sally.

  “Hello, Sally,” said Gabe as he helped open the main door. “I feel terrible for you.” Then, Sally remembered her apartment door shut behind her.

  “Oh, shit,” sighed Sally. “We’re locked out.”

  “Damn. I’m so sorry,” Gabe shook his head. He had come to help Sally, not make things harder. “Do you have another key?”

  “My keys are inside. But Kimmie has a key. Can I use your phone?”

  “Of course.” Gabe gave Sally his Smartphone. Sally texted Kimmie, in case Kimmie was on a shoot.

  SALLY: Locked myself out. 

  KIMMIE: WTF?

  SALLY: Could u let me back in after work?

  KIMMIE: B there at 8.

  SALLY: Thx.

  “She can’t make it until eight o’clock,” explained Sally.

  “Well, it sounds like you’re stuck with me until then,” said Gabe.

  Chapter Nineteen

  Gabriel helped Sally into his Lexus. “We have several hours to burn. Where do you want to go?” he asked.

  Sally felt a bit uneasy and shrugged her shoulders. So many times she had missed Gabriel, but now her heart yearned for Dominick—even though he was Gabe’s cousin and thousands of miles away.

  “So, how have you been?” Sally as
ked politely.

  “I’m fine, thanks. It’s good to see you again, Sally,” said Gabriel.

  “Thanks for checking on me,” she replied.

  “My pleasure. Actually, Dominick told me he talked to you about surprising me for my birthday next week. You know you can call me whenever.”

  Sally crinkled her brow, unsure until she realized that Dominick had made up a story. He wanted her looked after, and if he couldn’t do it himself, then he had to resort to having Gabriel do it.

  “Is something wrong?” asked Gabriel.

  “Oh, no. It’s just my ankle,” said Sally. It did hurt, but she had become accustomed to the overall numbing pain. Sometimes, however, a jolt of pain would run up and down her leg.

  “It must be painful. So how did you break it?” asked Gabriel.

  “I fell in the bathroom.”

  “Ouch.” Gabriel drove them down the highway toward Braintree. Sally wondered where they were going but trusted he would take them somewhere relaxing. Why does Gabriel still have to look so good, like Dominick? Stop it, Sally.

  “Where are we going?” Sally asked, feeling a bit guilty.

  “To Braintree,” replied Gabriel. “We’ll go for a ride and do something fun for you,” He went through the fast lane of a toll booth. “So is your leg better?”

  “Yeah. It’s actually less swollen today than it was yesterday. I like that I can wiggle my toes now,” said Sally.

  “The Wiggles are great,” joked Gabriel.

  “You’re silly,” replied Sally.

  Gabriel pulled up to the Braintree Mall parking lot. “I don’t think this is a good idea. I’m not very mobile,” said Sally.

  “Don’t worry. Just wait right here.” Gabriel went inside for several minutes and came back out with a wheelchair.

  Sally smiled. “Where did you get that?

  “Customer service.” Gabriel smiled.

  Gabriel surprised her by picking her up and placing her in the wheelchair. Sally couldn’t believe how light he made her feel. He didn’t struggle at all carrying her, and he pushed her into the mall.