by Lexy Timms
“Sounds like she was delusional.”
He wasn’t taking the bait. “Apparently this mystery doctor calmed her in the ER with words of kindness. Wish I could meet this blue-eyed angel because she probably saved Mrs. Hebert’s life.”
“I thought you said Thomas Bennet. That would make the mystery doctor a male.” Charity glanced at Sara, who was sitting behind her desk working on something while chatting to Jamie at the same time.
Elijah leaned close to her and quickly kissed her. “Thomas Bennet, Thompson-Bennet. Pretty close. Good job and thanks for helping,” he whispered. He straightened and raised his voice so Sara would hear him. “What time did my mother say she was arriving?”
“Hold on a sec,” Sara said. “I’m just looking it up on the web.” She pulled up Margaret’s flight on the computer. “Looks like there’s a fifty minute delay.”
Charity checked her watch. It only took twenty minutes to get to the airport. They had almost two hours now before Margaret would arrive. “Do you need to head back downstairs for an hour or so?”
Elijah smiled.
Sara closed a drawer loudly and turned to them. “Your space in the emergency room is already covered. They have plenty of helping hands down there now. I just spoke with the nurse in the ER. You won’t be needed.” She smiled pleasantly, but her face said, ‘Don’t argue with me’.
“If things are covered, then I guess I’m not needed?” Elijah’s statement came out more like a question.
Charity laughed. She really liked Sara. “We have time to grab a bite to eat then. Jamie should probably eat. She’s going to be starving soon.”
Elijah shoved his hands in his pocket. “I’ll grab my stuff from my office and we can go.”
“I’ll wait here with Jamie.” Charity watched Jamie help Sara line up a pack of markers and laugh every time one rolled off the desk.
Elijah disappeared and returned a few moments later, now dressed in jeans and a grey t-shirt. “I just spoke to your dad.”
Charity set the magazine she’d been flipping through down. “He’s here?”
Elijah nodded. “He’s heading into surgery, just came by his office to change his top. He mentioned that if my Mum wanted to stay in his guest room, she was more than welcome. I know we planned to leave it up to her, but let’s push her in that direction. We have the new room over the garage for her if she doesn’t want to stay at Scott’s.” He tilted his head as he watched her. “You seem stressed babe. You okay?”
Charity’s thoughts had been half lost to the short time she’d been in the ER. She missed it and part of her wished she was back in there. Her father wanted her back operating. She just wasn’t sure she wanted Jamie in daycare or with a babysitter. “I’m fine. I don’t have much going on besides a new job, Jamie, my father’s party, your mother’s visit. Oh! And being your wife.”
“You handle it all with grace. I love you for it, Dr. Thompson-Bennet and I’m here to help as best I can.”
She didn’t feel like she was handling it with grace. She felt like a floundering duck, unsure if she wanted to sink or swim.
Jamie broke her silence. “I pooped!” No wonder she had been quiet, she’d been busy.
Elijah reached for the pull-up travel bag. “I’ll change her quick. Then we can go grab a bite before we pick up my Mum from the airport.” He picked her up and disappeared into the patient bathroom to change her.
Charity listened as the hospital pager called for Dr. Thompson to the ER. She glanced longingly at the door, wishing it was her name they were calling. She would love to be down there at the moment. She sighed. This was one of the reasons she didn’t come to the hospital much the past year. It made her want to work. Her hands itched to do surgeries and save people. Hopefully her soon-to-be new job would leave her just as satisfied.
Chapter 5
“Thanks for hosting dinner. It’s been hectic and I haven’t had a chance to tidy the house.” Charity smiled. She was overjoyed that someone else was doing the cooking, even if it was take-out.
“Ditto.” Elijah sat by his mother, Jamie bouncing on his knee. “Jamie agrees, too. Don’t you, Peanut?”
“Ya, ya. Gamma and Pop! More sushi pease.” Jamie smiled in her new pink outfit Margaret had brought from New Zealand.
The five sat at her father’s place all gathered together for dinner. There was no mention of where Margaret would be staying, but the subject was bound to come up eventually.
Scott Thompson passed the tray with the California rolls on it to Elijah. “I’m anxious to hear how work at Pinnacle is coming along, Charity. You left medicine so you could avoid crazy hours. There was a massive accident. We could have used your skillful hands today.” He smiled. “I hope you’re finding it manageable in that respect.”
Elijah squeezed Charity’s thigh under the table. He realized that her career was a touchy subject when brought up by her father.
“Work’s fine, Dad.” Charity ignored his digging comment. She knew he didn’t mean it to sound harsh, he just didn’t know how to deal with things not going the way he wanted. “I’m able to work from home sixty percent of the time. Lets me hang with Jamie more.”
“Is it a whole new kind of job?” Margaret asked.
“It’s different than being on the hospital floor working. If you’re referring to my residence. However, the work kind of comes second nature to me because I’ve done this sort of thing before. Right now, it involves Saint Luke’s Hospital and their capital campaign. They have come upon a huge donation that’s conditional upon their raising matching funds.” She turned to her dad, “You’ve probably read about it because it’s gotten a ton of press.”
“So, you’ve quit being a doctor in our hospital to compete against us for funds?” her father asked flatly.
Charity began to squirm as she started dissecting her Hosomaki. She wanted to snap a comment back but bit her tongue. Jamie didn’t need to hear her argue with her Poppy.
Elijah knew it was his signal to change the subject fast. “You must be exhausted, Mum. The jet lag from New Zealand is a killer.”
“For the past week I’ve been living on your time. I gradually bring myself around and a few Ambien don’t hurt.” Margaret smiled, looking completely fine and not tired at all. “However, I was wondering what the plans were for my sleeping arrangements.”
“Good, good,” Elijah said and nodded. “What’s your plan? I sense you’ve already planned it out.”
Margaret took a sip of her red wine. “Scott and I were talking about this the other night. Since the two of you are quite busy and I’m here to see my adorable little grandchild,” she said and smiled at Jamie. “I figured I can be a floater.”
“Floater?” Charity asked. Did she plan on spending every other night at their house?
“I decided—I thought—that on the weekends when Charity’s off, I’ll stay here with Scott and during the week, I can stay with you. I don’t want to be a burden to anyone full-time. In fact, I’ll be in sunny Florida for a couple of days to meet up with Haunch.”
From the look on his face, Scott Thompson was not aware of who Haunch was. He didn’t look impressed.
Charity pressed her lips tight, holding in a giggle. This would make for an interesting couple of months, possibly entertaining as well. “Why don’t you relax for a few days at our house? We’ve redone the room over the garage as a sort of mother-in-law’s suite for lack of a better term. It has been minimally decorated so if you get the urge, you’re welcome to make it your own.” Charity put another California roll on Jamie’s plate.
Margaret beamed. She had an eye for design and loved taking charge, of anything. “Jamie and I can go shopping! What a nice surprise.”
Elijah chuckled. “That’ll be a sight. I’m not sure you can keep up with the little speed demon.”
Margaret stared down at her son. “I hope you’re not referring to my age. Haunch and I have been on rough terrain day hikes with people in their twenties. We always lea
d the pack.”
The awkward look appeared on Scott’s face again at the mention of Haunch. He was obviously figuring out that Haunch was a male person of interest for Margaret.
“What’s for dessert?” Charity felt sorry for her dad. He wasn’t always the easiest but she loved him and wished she’d thought to mention Haunch to him before Margaret had arrived.
Scott stood quickly and headed into the kitchen, returning a moment later with a decadent chocolate cake. Jamie’s eyes popped and everyone else at the table looked disappointed, if not completely pissed off. Charity and Elijah had been through so much with Dr. Thompson’s heart attack. Margaret showed her concern as well because the fat, calories and sugar were irresistible.
“Seriously, Dad? You’re a freakin’ doctor and you know how bad that cake is for you,” Charity said firmly.
“Don’t hound me, Charity.” Her father purposely cut a large piece for himself. “I can take care of myself just fine. I’m not fat.”
“I know you aren’t.” Charity stared at him in dismay. “It’s the clogged arteries that can fit that shit through their tiny, weak holes.”
“Earmuffs, Momma.”
Charity shot a glance at Jamie.
“Yeah, earmuffs,” her father repeated.
Charity stood. “All of us here are concerned with you not having a second heart attack. Some of us don’t want to lose their only remaining parent.” She watched her father take a large bite before offering Jamie one. Charity stood. “Excuse me.” She headed up the stairs to the bathroom. She stared at her reflection in the mirror and burst into silly tears. A chocolate cake was not going to cause a massive coronary at the dinner table, but it represented something that pissed her off. Her father, the great Dr. Scott Thompson didn’t care enough about his family to try like hell to prevent himself from dying. Selfish bastard.
Elijah peered his head through the half closed door. “You sure do know how to make a statement Charity.” He came up behind her, wrapped his arms around her tiny waist, and kissed her neck. “Look at you. Even with tears streaming down your face you’re beautiful. Just let it go about your dad. Give him a break tonight.” Elijah kissed her neck and pushed his hips against hers.
“Seriously, Elijah?” She could feel him harden against her glute. Her body betrayed her and warmed at the thought. “We are not going to get it on in my father’s bathroom with our parents and child below us. As tempting as it is, it’s way inappropriate.”
“Since when has that stopped you?” Elijah pulled at her linen pants and coral thong and soon they were around her ankles. He unzipped his black jeans. He was ready to penetrate his wife when the door cracked open.
“Mommy and Daddy! Found you!” Jamie shoved the door open all the way and stood in the doorway covered in chocolate.
Margaret showed up behind Jamie.
Charity and Elijah had acted fast and managed to pull up their pants, hopefully before Margaret saw them.
“You’re speedy, Miss Jamie Lynn.” Margaret laughed and scooped her up. “Let’s let Mommy and Daddy finish what they started.” Margaret winked and carried Jamie back into the dining room.
Elijah laughed as Charity covered her eyes.
“That did NOT just happen!” She shook her head, her cheeks burning with embarrassment. “We were just about to have sex in my father’s bathroom!” She whispered the words, as if they were taboo. “To make it worse, your mother and our daughter walked in on us! Then Margaret winked! What the hell was that about?”
“Earmuffs.” Elijah laughed and kissed her neck. “We’re married and have a child together so obviously we aren’t virgins. I think the cat’s out of the bag on that one. Margaret and Scott have probably already christened this room anyways.”
“Elijah – Ick! Now I have visions of my father as a sexual being that I won’t be able to get out of my mind. There is no way our parents have ever had sex and if they did, it certainly wasn’t in this bathroom.”
Elijah took a seat on the toilet as if it were an easy chair. He smiled. “Why do you think he had a heart attack on our wedding?”
“I’m going to throw up. Seriously.” She started laughing.
“Mission accomplished!” Elijah clapped his hands. “You’ve ceased to be upset about chocolate cake.”
She stared at her husband. “I love you, even if you are nuts.”
Elijah grinned as he stood. “That’s my girl.” He gently used his hip to move her over so he could stand in front of the sink. “I thoroughly enjoy this type of rendezvous. The excitement of being caught is an aphrodisiac.” Elijah splashed cold water on his face.
“Aphrodisiac – since when do you need one of those?”
Chapter 6
Charity quickly grew accustomed to having Margaret around. She still tried creating some type of routine, which seemed no easier than when she was a practicing doctor. She had Elijah’s crazy schedule, Jamie’s mini social calendar packed with playdates, Margaret’s whims and her own full-time job that everyone seemed to think wasn’t full time. She also had her father’s surprise party, which she hoped to pass off to Margaret. She was supposed to be easing into her position at Pinnacle but it was proving anything but easy. The $200M from tech giant Starr Inc., and more specifically from Hal Jaworski, was contingent upon raising $200M in two years. The fund, and all that came with it, were thrown into Charity’s lap, along with all of the pressure. She sat in her home office, Margaret having taken Jamie out to the park, her chin resting against the palm of a hand as she tried to make some order out of the nonsense.
The phone ringing interrupted her thoughts. “Hey,” she said. The caller id showed it was Elijah.
“Wow. That’s an exciting hello to your hard-working husband who’s busy saving lives.”
She wanted to retort that she was busy trying to make money to equip doctors with better life-saving devices but she bit her tongue to stop the remark. She straightened. “What’s up lover-boy?”
Elijah laughed. “Just doctoring. I had a troubling case recently with the simple splenectomy I did. She’s been diagnosed with splenomegaly.”
“Oh shit, you left a clamp behind in the abdomen?” Charity said half-kidding.
“No smart-ass.” He chuckled again. “We thought it would solve this woman’s problems because the organ was enlarged. Did you ever hear the spleen referred to as a waiting room or an accessory dwelling? I had an old professor use the term and it stuck with me. Makes sense, right? It’s a place for platelets and other cells to go hang out. We thought it was portal hypertension, but we were wrong and we’re thinking leukemia. So, the patient—”
Charity interrupted, “I would love to care about your patient and her spleen but I don’t have time. I’ve so much going on, sorry honey, but your troubles are irrelevant right now. I’m listening to your mother and Jamie chatting down in the kitchen. They’ve been back from the park for half an hour, she took Jamie there for like five minutes! Their chatter is beyond distracting because I should be the one down there. I have a caboodle of playdates, locations for my father’s birthday party to confirm and then there’s work. I’m more behind since your mom’s come.” She sighed. “I hate to put you in line behind everything, but that’s the way it is today.” She felt like a bitch moaning to him.
Elijah could have snapped a comment back or asked if she was PMSing.
Charity cringed, waiting for the snarky reply.
He surprised her. “Take one thing at a time, love. I’m okay with standing in line for your attention, because I know you love me and I love you.” He sat quiet on the phone a moment. “It’ll get easier.”
Paging Dr. Bennet.
Charity heard the call in the background. For a moment, she regretted taking leave from Thompson Hospital. She shook her head to diminish the feeling. She didn’t deserve Elijah. He was out saving lives and loving her. How’d she get so lucky?
“Gotta run. I’ll check-in later. Love you!”
Charity lay her head
on her desk and decided to press the reset button on her day. She wrote out her to-do list. The first thing she could cross off was her father’s party because that would have to become Margaret’s responsibility. Jamie had a busy weekend so it was time for her to take a nap. She was almost ready to give that part of her routine up but not today. Charity could use that time to chat with Margaret before sitting down to get some work done.
Margaret put on the teakettle. Charity watched her navigate around the kitchen in her skinny jeans and a sleeveless blouse. God, I hope I look that good at sixty. Margaret’s chin-length bob and simple, but obviously expensive, jewelry was the epitome of chic.
“I see you have quite the assortment of brochures, menus and magazines with sticky notes. Are we going to begin planning Scott’s gala surprise party?” Margaret asked as she raised her cup of hibiscus tea to her pink lips.
“Actually, Margaret.” She suddenly felt a lot less sure than she had fifteen minutes ago when she’d gathered all her information and planned to hand it all to Margaret. “We aren’t planning anything at the moment.” She swallowed, her throat dry and a large lump seemed to be in the way. She blinked several times hoping Margaret wouldn’t notice. She inhaled and let the breath out slowly. “This party was a crazy idea. I’m beginning to have doubts.”
“Nonsense! Your father needs a celebration. It’s a fantastic idea.”
Charity tried to smile. “Then I’m begging you to take charge of the event. I’m swamped. It turns out I suck at multi-tasking.” She was nearly in tears, unable to hold them back much longer.
Margaret smiled gently. “No one said working full-time and being a Mom is easy. Part of getting it all done is learning when to ask for help. I’m happy to take the lead. I’ll gladly do anything for your father.”
