by Lexy Timms
“I’m going to call Maxine at the hospital and see if she knows where my dad is.”
Elijah went back to sleep before Charity finished her sentence. She slipped out of bed and headed to the kitchen.
She made a cup of coffee. On mornings like this, she was glad they had a coffee maker that utilized pods because it saved time. Charity stepped on a princess tiara on the way to her office. Shit. The morning was not starting well.
She punched in the numbers to Maxine’s personal phone. Charity didn’t care it was early. “Good morning, Maxine. This is Charity Bennet, Scott’s daughter.” As if she didn’t know.
“Yes Charity.” Maxine’s voice sounded groggy.
“I’m trying to reach my father and I’ve had no luck since yesterday afternoon. It’s out of character for him not to be available to me.”
“Dr. Thompson took a break from the city for a few days. I’m sure you will hear back from him when he returns.”
“He was supposed to be home yesterday.”
“He apparently extended his trip. Is there an emergency?”
“Not really.” She frowned. “Is Margaret, Dr. Bennet’s mother with him?”
“Dr. Thompson asked that I respect his privacy. Therefore, I don’t feel comfortable giving out details of his trip.”
Really? The woman was not going to budge on her information. An incoming beep on her phone, letting her know she had another call, stopped her from arguing with the woman. “Thanks, Maxine.” Charity hung up and switched to the other call. It had to be her father. Who else would call at five thirty in the morning, unless it was an emergency? “Dad?”
“I can be your daddy.”
Hal Jaworski. Seriously? “It’s a bit early to be calling, isn’t it?”
“I’m back and wanted you to know I got your message.”
And you had to let me know at five thirty? “Good to know.”
“I think the list of donors that I gave you is an excellent start towards achieving our two hundred mill goal.”
Charity could hear he was smoking a cigar. The signature inhaling and exhaling made Charity nauseous, as if she could actually smell it. She swallowed and pushed the image of him smoking out of her mind. “Yes, the list. That’s why I wanted to meet with you.”
“We can discuss this on the phone.”
“Fine. You know I personally know almost everyone on the donors list because I’ve dealt with them personally before.”
“Charity, I wanted to hire the best fundraiser on the east coast that I could get my hands on. It’s you, which you should take as a compliment. I’m not begging for your help like some street urchin. You were hired for a fundraising job at Pinnacle. I’ve done everything correctly, crossed my t’s, dotted my i’s. What is your problem, Charity?”
Hal knew if she didn’t finish the job then heads would roll; namely hers and Linda Curry’s. As Linda indicated, Charity didn’t really need the money but it could ruin her name. It was a matter of principle and Charity hated failure. Then there was the moral conflict in going against Thompson Hospital. Charity didn’t want to lock horns with her father or Thompson Hospital. She was screwed no matter what she did.
“Mr. Jaworski, I think the way you went about our arrangement was underhanded. I’m not sure what this will do to my reputation and that matters to me a lot, as does my father. Contacting people to give to a project at St. Luke’s after I have already sought funds for their competitor says little of my loyalty.”
“You’re a doctor right?”
“Correct,” Charity said, not sure where he was going with that, but knowing he was up to something.
“You took an oath to do no harm. If a murderer showed up in your emergency department you would try to save him, right?”
“You’re comparing apples to oranges. There is no oath of Greek origin that I took before I became a fundraiser. I’ll contact some of the players on the list. Why don’t we set up a time to meet next week?” Charity had too much on her mind to waste time debating ethics with Hal Jaworski.
“How about tomorrow at eleven. We can meet at my office because I know lunch at a restaurant intimidates you.”
No, you sexist-fat pig. I prefer not to have lunch with a man who gets drunk before two and has horrendous table manners. “That’ll be fine. See you then.” She’d have to come up with another approach to raising the money. He wanted her to use the list, she’d have to come up with her own. She had just over twenty-four hours to outsmart him.
Charity didn’t even hear Jamie while she was working in her office. Lucky for her Elijah was home to pick up the little Peanut. He went the extra step and got Jamie dressed. Today she was Princess Jasmine. It wasn’t easy to keep up with her daily choice of costumes. Elijah had already been the Beast and this morning he was the Genie. Charity wondered when she would get into the act. Her recent short temper would make her perfect to play the villain in anything.
“Still talking to me?” she asked. She realized that she was still in her pajamas with her hair in a ponytail. She sat down at the table. “No news on my dad. Maxine did confirm he went away with someone. It’s obviously your mom and they extended their trip.”
Elijah got up from the breakfast table and wrapped his arms around her. He kissed the top of her head. “Even you’re allowed a bad mood once in a while. Just don’t make it every day,” he teased. “I don’t like when you refuse to snuggle with me. I prefer looking at your face as you sleep and not the back of your head.” He pulled Charity in for a kiss.
“Daddy don’t bite Mommy’s neck,” Jamie warned.
“Daddy loves Mommy. I can kiss Mommy any time I like because I’m married to her. You aren’t kissing boys until you are very, very old.”
“How old is very, very?” Charity smiled for the first time that morning.
“I’m thinking twenty or forty. I plan to have a chip implanted so I can monitor her whereabouts. Maybe a shock collar too so when a boy gets close she’ll zap him. You never know what technology will be around as she ages,” Elijah joked. “What did Maxine say?”
“I was stonewalled by my father’s watchdog.”
He laughed. “I think you can forget about being worried Charity because I can see my mother. Gamma’s here Jamie. What a treat and now Mama won’t have anything to worry about.”
“Hooray. It’s Gamma time.” Princess Jamie slid out of her seat.
Margaret glided into the kitchen with Scott’s car keys in her hand. Neither Elijah nor Charity had to ask where she’d been.
“Morning sweetie!” she kissed Jamie. “Gamma missed you!” She hugged Jamie and picked her up. “I dropped Scott off at the hospital. Keeping him away from that place is as hard as bathing a cat.”
“Morning, Mom.” Elijah strolled over and kissed her. “I’d love to stay and chat about bathing felines and anything else you’ve been up to, but I have to go and join Scott at the hospital. Hope you had a good time away.” Elijah gave Jamie a silly kiss, Margaret a peck on the cheek and Charity managed a slip of the tongue.
Elijah left and Margaret sat in his seat, munching on the toast left on the table.
“How was your trip?” Charity wanted to tell her she’d been worried, but the happy look on Margaret’s face said it all.
“Oh, Charity. Your father and I have become so close! I’m falling in love with him. However, the reason for my visit, besides saying hi to my little princess, is to talk about Scott’s surprise party. It’s coming soon.”
Charity blinked and then blinked again. “You lay a bomb on me that you love my father and in the same breath you want to talk about a party? At least tell me where the two of you went.”
“We were in Montauk. Scott arranged for a fabulous rental that was way too big for two people but you know your dad.”
“Yep, always the best for Dr. Scott Thompson. Paella for dinner is all you missed. Want some? It’s probably dinnertime in Spain.” Charity laughed.
“No thank you, I’ll pass. I booked the venue, which
is not exactly what you might choose.” Margaret grabbed a binder out of her bag by the door and set it on the table.
“Let’s see what you’ve got,” Charity said as she shoved a piece of cold toast into her mouth. She went to the fridge and grabbed the paella. It actually sounded good at the moment. Even cold.
“I’m planning a carnival to celebrate Scott’s seventieth!”
Charity nearly choked on the paella. “I’m not sure my father would be excited for that. He’s the chief of a hospital named after him, and not really a hit up a ride and eat cotton candy kind of guy.”
“I plan to have it at a baseball diamond, which I’ve reserved. We’ll have red balloons everywhere to make it festive. I know they make surgical gloves in many different colors so we can special order red ones and fill them with helium. They’ll be the balloons. I’m going to hire a symphony orchestra to play and we’ll serve hotdogs with red wine from the Rhone region in France.”
“You aren’t serious. Please tell me you’re kidding. Did you and my father smoke something funny while in Montauk?” Charity had pictured something subdued and elegant, which was more attuned to his taste.
“I think your father is ready to be a free spirit in some aspects of his life. What a better way to celebrate Scott than a carnival in his honor. Jamie Lynn would love it and seeing that little girl smile would be a gift in itself.”
“I don’t have the time or energy to fight you on this one so a carnival it is. Do you have the guest list I sent you?” Charity asked.
“I do, but I don’t want it too big. Your father doesn’t like huge crowds.”
“News to me because he seems comfortable talking in front of hundreds.”
“Leave that to me. Your job is going to be getting him there on time. I’ll send you the specifics.”
Charity couldn’t get the pairing of hotdogs with red wine off her mind.
Chapter 21
The odd crazy day went by quickly. Margaret worked on the party while Charity worked on ideas to get around Hal. Jamie entertained them throughout the day, happy to have both of them there to cause mischief. Jamie’s new bed was delivered and they set her room up too.
Before she realized, Margaret headed out to make dinner for Scott and Charity decided to prepare dinner for her and Elijah. He had called to say he would be home from the hospital at a reasonable hour. The Bennet’s were going to pretend for a night they were a normal couple working a 9-5 schedule. Elijah and Charity were anything but normal, which was a good thing most of the time. Elijah promised they were going to be like June and Ward Cleaver for the night, at least until it was time to go to bed. Then they would portray a different couple. Maybe Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, whomever it was, they would be “R” rated.
Her cell rang and Charity saw Elijah’s cell. She flipped her phone to speaker as she bustled around the kitchen. “Hey handsome. You running late? Just saw the traffic on the news. Can you channel your inner Vin Diesel and put the pedal to the metal? I’m making Chicken Picante with steamed veggies.”
“Sorry, babe. I’m gonna be probably an hour. Hold dinner for me if you can.”
Charity turned everything on low. “Traffic’s that bad?”
“No. There’s an emergency at the hospital and I have to handle some sutures.”
“Sutures?! Have a resident do it. Since when do you stitch up patients?”
“Since it’s Simon. He has a gash on his head and he wants to keep it on the down low. I’m sorry Charity. I’ve been covering for this guy for months and I can’t cut him loose now.”
What the hell? “Is he okay?”
“He’ll be fine.”
“Do you need me to call Julie?”
“No! Please don’t! Let Simon tell her.”
Charity shook her head. “You know what? I’m tired of Simon, and you covering up for him. Or whatever the he—heck it is.” Jamie came wobbling into the kitchen. Still a little unsure on her legs as the left leg was slightly shorter and it would take time to get used to. Charity caught herself from swearing just in time. “Dinner’ll be warm in the oven for you if you make it home. I’m going to eat with Jamie. Remember her? She’s our two-year-old daughter who misses her daddy.”
“Daddy home. Daddy home now. I need Prince Charming.” Jamie frowned. She was dressed as Cinderella in a blue dress. Her blonde curls made it her best role yet. She had been half running around the house waving her wand as she knocked over anything in her path. Charity could not help but crack a smile despite her foul mood. She was becoming a reluctant authority on all Disney princesses. “Hear that? Jamie wants her prince home and so do I.” She hit end on the phone before Elijah could reply.
She collapsed in front of the T.V. with Jamie and a plate of spicy chicken. She couldn’t get enough spicy food and when she was done, Jamie’s mac & cheese soothed her burning mouth.
****
Elijah entered an examine room in the emergency department. He made sure the location was far from the action and luckily it was a slow night in emergency. He didn’t want to be noticed sewing up a gash on Simon’s forehead. A job a skilled seamstress could handle with no problem.
“You’re a godsend Elijah. Julie’s going to be furious. I need a decent cover story. Think on it while you’re doing your handiwork,” Simon said as he sat on the table in a blue smock and bloodstained jeans.
“I’m going to stitch you up, mate, but the rest is up to you. I just received a tongue-lashing from my wife and I don’t blame her. She’s furious and thinks I’m the one up to something. I can just tell.” Elijah shook his head. “You’re lucky there was no alcohol in your system when you hit the windshield. I couldn’t fudge any blood tests because I’m not losing my license for you. As far as an excuse as to why you have ten stiches on your head; come up with one on your own.”
“Car wreck won’t work when my vehicle is sitting pretty and undamaged in the parking lot. Pam’s car has front-end damage but what am I gonna say? Pam and I were running errands together. Pam’s twenty-five and a knock-out. Ouch.”
Elijah injected Simon’s cut with Lidocaine after cleaning it out but he didn’t wait long enough for the area to numb completely. “You play, you pay Simon. Don’t be such a baby over a few stitches. You’re lucky I gave you Lidocaine at all because you deserve a little pain for what you’re doing to your wife.”
“Is it going to leave much of a scar?” Simon asked.
“I hope so.”
“What?” Simon snapped.
“Questioning my work while I’m holding a needle is a bad idea. I’m using a single filament and the tissue doesn’t look bad. It was a deep slash and not a jagged cut, so it will heal nicely. The stitches will dissolve in about two weeks. Nothing compared to what you’re doing to Julie’s heart.”
“Stop bringing up, Julie. I’m in pain man.”
“Can’t help you. But I can give you some advice. Stop telling lies, tell the truth for once. Julie has a solid heart and in case you haven’t noticed, though I’m sure you have, Pam’s tits are fake. The girl has so much silicone in her face that I worry she might explode on you, and then you’ll be stuck with another hospital visit to explain.”
Elijah walked out of the exam room when he finished without saying another word to Simon. He was mad at himself for not being honest with Charity. He’d covered Simon’s affair with Pam. He threw his instruments into the metal receptacle and ripped off his white coat. Elijah misjudged how much lying for Simon would affect his relationship with Charity.
He called home, but this time Charity didn’t answer and he couldn’t blame her. He left a message.
“I’m on my way home. Looking forward to playing Prince Charming to both of my girls. See you soon. I love you Charity.”
On the way to his car, Elijah stopped at the gift shop to pick something up for the girls. He grabbed a couple of bunches of cellophane wrapped roses. They were what you’d expect from a hospital gift shop but it was the thought that would hopefully cou
nt.
Charity was sleeping on the couch with Cinderella in her arms. The glow from the television cast an angelic light on them. Elijah stood above them holding the flowers for several minutes. He thought of pulling his phone out of his pocket to snap the photo but decided a mental snapshot enough. He remained in place until Charity’s eyes fluttered.
“Hey, how long have you been standing there?” Charity mumbled in her sleepy voice.
“Long enough to realize how lucky I am to have the two of you in my life.” Elijah placed the roses on the coffee table.
Charity smiled sleepily. “Thanks. Jamie will be thrilled that her charming prince was thinking of her.”
“Always. Let me help you put the Peanut down.”
“I would love that. We have made some big changes to Jamie’s room. She’ll be proud to tell you in detail what we have done.”
Elijah pried Jamie off Charity’s body and together they padded to Jamie’s pink palace. Elijah’s jaw dropped. In the center of her room was her big-girl bed, complete with canopy. Pink tulle with butterfly appliques came down from the sides of the canopy and it was only inches off the ground. Falls out of bed would only result in a bump, which would make everyone sleep easier. Another milestone meant another teary-eyed Elijah.
Charity spoke in a whisper. “Jamie’s so proud of her new bed. No more baby Jamie Lynn. She’s a little girl now. You’ll have to take apart the crib in the next couple of days and put it in storage I suppose.”
“You suppose? We’re pretty good at this baby thing so I think we should give it another shot; and another, and another.”
“Stop. I have to finish this project at work, which can last up to two years. It doesn’t mean that practice is out of the question.” Charity smiled. When they were together, things were so much easier. She was tired of the fighting.
“I know. I won’t pressure you, so we can just practice.” He grinned wickedly, obviously happy she wasn’t mad. “What do you say we get going?” Elijah flashed his bedroom eyes.
