by Lydia Rose
“Grace, stop it. I won’t have you talking that way.”
“What way, mom?” Grace looked at her mother’s face. “Do you like her too? I mean like her, like her?”
“You’re forgetting one thing, my dear daughter.” Michelle left a deep sigh. “I am not gay.”
“Okay, okay, mom. I’m just pulling your leg.”
CHAPTER SEVEN
Michelle’s leg was healing well and her paycheck continued coming in the mail each week. She didn’t have any contact with Sydney since the day she brought her home and realized that it was probably for the best.
Michelle was making dinner one evening as her cellphone rang. Not recognizing the number, she answered. “Hello.”
“Hi. Is this Michelle Richards?” The voice asked.
“Yes. This is?” Michelle questioned.
“It’s Wilma Lowell from Willow Studios.”
“Hello, Ms. Lowell.”
“I understand you’re looking for a position in my wardrobe department?” Wilma asked.
“Well I’m still on record at Hope, but I’m recovering from a broken leg.”
“I know. Sydney told me what happened. When is your cast coming off?”
“In about two weeks.” Michelle answered.
“Come see me when that happens and we’ll talk.”
“Thank you, Ms. Lowell. I appreciate the opportunity.”
“I’m always looking for good people and Sydney says you’re the best. I’ll expect you shortly.”
“Thank you.”
Michelle told Grace about the phone call when she came in.
“Mom, you’ve got to thank the Doc for this. She’s gone over and above for you.”
“I know, honey, but I don’t have a way to reach her.”
“Duh. You know where she works.” Grace rolled her eyes.
“I hate to bother her at work.”
“Mom, what are you so afraid of?”
“I’m not afraid.” Michelle looked at her daughter. “I’ll call her when my cast comes off.”
Grace didn’t wait. She called the hospital after school the following day to find out if Sydney was on duty. Grace went into the ER and asked to see Sydney.
“Do you have an appointment?” The nurse asked.
“No. I’m a personal friend.”
“What’s your name and I’ll call her,” the nurse said with a smile.
“Grace Sydney Richards.”
The nurse dialed a number and a few minutes later, Sydney came through the closed doors.
“Grace, is your mother alright?” She asked with a nervous smile.
“She’s fine, Doc. I just wanted to talk to you.”
“Sure. Let’s sit down.”
They found a seat in a corner and Grace asked. “Mom and I would like to invite you to dinner as a thank you.”
“Grace, it isn’t necessary. It’s my job.”
“You drove mom to work to pick up her things, then you took her home. Hell, you carried her up the stairs. Then she got a call yesterday about a new job.” Grace smiled. “Doc, you’ve gone over and above your job description.”
“Grace, does your mother know you’re here?”
“Of course.”
“Why didn’t she just call me?”
“Because she doesn’t have your phone number, Doc.”
“Oh,” Sydney said then reached into her pocket and took out a card. Her cellphone number was added to the back of the card. “So when do you want me to come over?”
“Are you working Saturday evening?”
“Not unless an emergency occurs.”
“Then we will see you Saturday night at six.” Grace stood up. “Okay, Doc?”
“I’ll be there.” Sydney answered.
“You what?” Michelle screeched when Grace told her of the invite.
“Mom, we have to thank her.”
“I know we do, but I should have extended the invitation.”
“I told her you didn’t have her number.” Grace pulled out Sydney’s card. “Here. Now you have all her phone numbers.”
“What are we going to serve?”
“She was your friend. You should know what she likes.”
“Grace, that was eighteen years ago. Suppose she’s a vegetarian or worse a vegan. What could we possibly make?”
“Mom, call her. The Doc will tell you if she has any dietary restrictions.” Grace got up and went into her room.
“Great. Just great,” Michelle said looking at the card. She dialed the number and waited. Don’t pick up. Don’t pick up.
“Hello.”
“Sydney?”
“Yes this is Sydney.”
“Syd, this is Michelle. Michelle Richards.”
“Hey, Michelle. How are you feeling?”
“Better thanks. Uh, I was just calling to see if you had any dietary issues I should know about for the dinner.” Michelle’s voice showed how nervous she was.
“Nope. I eat anything, Michelle.”
“Good, good.” Michelle didn’t know what else to say.
“Michelle, can I ask you a question?”
“Yes,” she said softly.
“This dinner invitation. Was it Grace and you or just Grace?”
“Uh.”
Sydney didn’t wait for Michelle to continue. “Listen, Michelle. You don’t owe me anything. What I did for you was for someone I used to consider a friend.” Sydney took a deep breath. “I know you’re still on crutches and I don’t need you to go the trouble.”
“Can I speak now?” Michelle asked.
“Sure.”
“Grace and I talked about inviting you to dinner, but I didn’t want to bother you at work. We both would like you to come to dinner. Grace will be very disappointed if you don’t come Saturday.” Michelle kept her voice steady as she spoke.
“Would you be disappointed, Michelle?” Sydney asked anticipating her answer.
“Yes, Syd. You didn’t have to do what you did for me. Especially carrying me up the steps.”
Sydney laughed. “I surprised myself with that feat.”
“You’re lucky both of us didn’t come crashing down those stairs.”
“Hey, I’m a strong woman. I have to stand for hours on end during brain surgery. I spend a lot of time in the gym keeping my legs in shape.”
“Good to know for the future,” Michelle said with a laugh. “So do you have any preference as to what you would like me to make for dinner?”
“Nope. Surprise me.”
“I better let you get back to what you were doing. See you Saturday, Syd.”
“See you,” Sydney said before she disconnected the call.
CHAPTER EIGHT
Michelle began the preparations for dinner that evening. Grace had gone to the store and picked up the items needed for tonight’s meal. Today Michelle was only using one crutch as she did her cooking preparation. She opened a bottle of wine and laid out the appetizers on the snack bar. Grace had set the dining table and they were ready for their guest to arrive.
“Mom, can I have one of these?” Grace asked pointing to the plate of shrimp toast.
“Grace, please wait for our guest to arrive,” Michelle said slapping her daughter’s hand away from the plate. At that moment, the doorbell rang. “I’ll get it.” Grace went to the door. “Thank god you’re here, Doc. My mom wouldn’t let me eat any of the appetizers.”
“I’m glad I could help your stomach, Grace,” she said with a chuckle. “Hello, Michelle.”
“Hi, Sydney. Have a seat so Grace can attack the appetizers.”
“I know, she told me already.”
Michelle smiled as the two of them filled their plates. Tonight Sydney was wearing a pair of low ride jeans and a V neck t-shirt. Michelle was still wearing shorts because she didn’t want to ruin a good pair of jeans by cutting them off at the knee.
“These are good, mom.” Grace shoved the food into her mouth.
“Yeah, Michelle. This i
s good.”
“Can I pour you a glass of wine?” Michelle asked already holding the bottle.
“Sorry, but I’m on call. I’ll have a coke or whatever you have.”
Michelle pulled out two cans of coke and poured a glass for Sydney and Grace.
“So how’s your leg doing?” Sydney asked in between bites.
“It’s driving me crazy. I can’t wait to get this thing off.” Just saying the words forced Michelle to lean over and try and scratch her leg. “I’ll give you a thousand dollars if you cut this thing off my leg.”
Sydney laughed. “I don’t think Doctor Patel would appreciate me doing that.”
“Didn’t think so,” Michelle said sadly. “Now that you two have filled up on appetizers, are you still hungry?”
Grace and Sydney looked at each other and said together. “Yes.”
“I see you still have the same appetite you had in school,” Michelle said laughing.
Sydney shrugged. “Why change a good thing?”
“Syd, have a seat and Grace and I will serve.” Michelle and Grace brought the bowls of food over to the table and took their seats.
“You made Chinese food? I mean you made Chinese food.” Sydney was totally floored. She never met anyone who made their own Chinese food.
Michelle giggled. “Syd, taste it before you go crazy. It might not be very good.”
“Don’t let her fool you, Doc. Mom makes better Chinese food then most take out places.” Grace was already filling her plate.
“I remember how you had Chinese food at least once a week. So I figured this would be a good choice for dinner.”
“You blew me away with the shrimp toast.” Sydney now spotted another plate. “You made egg rolls?”
“Syd, take some food before Grace eats it all. She has the same appetite you do.”
“Gee, thanks, mom,” Grace said with her mouth full of food.
The conversation was minimal because Grace and Sydney had their mouths filled most of the time. Michelle ate slower than the women on her left and right, but she enjoyed watching them enjoy the food she prepared.
When Sydney’s plate was empty and her silverware sat on the plate, she sat back and said. “So what are you making next Saturday night? Because if it’s as good as this was, I’m inviting myself.” Sydney let out a chuckle.
“I was expecting you to make dinner next time,” Michelle said as she poured another glass of wine.
“Then you both are in trouble because I can’t cook.”
“You can’t?”
“Michelle, when did I have time to learn how to cook? I’ve been in school and working non-stop for the last eighteen years.”
“Excuses, Excuses.”
Sydney stood up. “Grace and I will clean up since you cooked. Right, Grace?”
Grace reluctantly stood and grabbed her plate. Sydney took her own plate and Michelle’s into the kitchen. “At least there is a dishwasher. Otherwise we’d be washing the dishes.” They covered the leftovers and put everything away.
While Grace and Sydney cleaned up, Michelle looked at the bottle of wine. She was shocked that she had managed to almost finish the wine by herself.
“Mom, should I turn the coffeemaker on?” Grace asked.
“Please, Grace.”
“Mom, didn’t make dessert. She doesn’t like to bake.” Grace told Sydney. “She had me pick up a lemon meringue pie because she said it used to be your favorite.”
“It still is, Grace.”
Grace sliced the pie and put it on their plates. As the coffee dinged, Sydney carried the coffee pot and cups to the dining room table. Just as the two women sat down, Sydney’s cellphone rang.
“Doctor Legend.” Sydney listened to the caller and looked at her watch. “I’ll be there in fifteen minutes.” She got up from her chair. “I’m sorry, but there was an accident on the freeway. I have to go. Thank you for dinner and I’m sorry I have to rush out.”
“Go, Syd. It’s fine.”
Sydney left the house quickly.
Grace was already done with her piece of pie and reached for Sydney’s plate. “May as well not let this go to waste.”
CHAPTER NINE
Sydney reached the hospital as the ambulance pulled in. She followed along with the gurney to the ER. The patient was a young man who was driving under the influence and not wearing his seat belt. The air bag hadn’t gone off and his chest was crushed against the steering wheel. From where Sydney was evaluating the patient, his head injury was the least of his problems.
“We need to get a CT if you can keep him alive that long,” Sydney said to the other doctors and nurses working on the young man.
The young man died on the operating table. The doctors were never able to stabilize him. Sydney went home that evening feeling the loss of another wasted life to alcohol.
****
Sydney wasn’t on call the following day so she did what she couldn’t often do, sleep. It was nearly noon before she dragged herself out of bed and walked toward the kitchen. She turned the coffee pot on and headed back to the bedroom for a shower. Sydney’s home was the typical California ranch. The entire first floor had been gutted and all the modern conveniences were added to the home. She insisted on a large master bedroom with a master bathroom that would take care of her aches and pains from long days at the hospital. The soaking tub had a heater to keep the water warm and the large shower had a multitude of shower heads to hit every part of her body. The backyard was very private and had a pool in the center of the yard. Sydney took her coffee and phone out to the back patio.
“Hi, Syd.” The voice called out recognizing the number.
“Hi, Michelle. I just wanted to call and thank you again for dinner and to apologize for running out so quickly last night.”
“How is your patient?” Michelle asked, but heard Sydney’s deep sigh.
“He didn’t make it. He was only twenty two years old.”
“What happened?”
“Driving under the influence and no seat belt.” Sydney paused for a moment. “Grace doesn’t drink, does she?”
“No,” Michelle said quickly. “She doesn’t like the taste and I hope she never acquires a taste for it.”
“She’s a good kid, isn’t she?”
“Yes and very smart. She obviously got that from her father.”
“You were smart in school, Michelle,” Sydney said with a chuckle.
“Not like Grace.” She hesitated a moment before adding. “Last night was fun.” Michelle took a breath to find her courage. “I hope we can do it again sometime?”
“I’d like that, Michelle. I asked Doctor Patel about your leg and he said to bring you into the hospital next week. He said he’ll do another x-ray and see if the cast is ready to come off.”
“Just let me know what day I can come and I’ll be there.”
“How are you going to get down the stairs? We don’t want you reinjuring the leg.” Sydney asked with a laugh.
“I’ll ask Grace to help me.”
“Okay, I’ll let you know. Have a good day, Michelle.”
“You too, Syd and I’m sorry the boy died.”
“Me too,” Sydney said just before she disconnected the call.
****
True to her word, Sydney called the following week. “Hey, Michelle.”
“Hi, Sydney.”
“What time does Grace leave for school in the morning?”
“Seven forty five. Why?”
“I’ll be at your apartment at seven thirty tomorrow morning.”
“Sydney, it’s not necessary. Grace will help me down the stairs.”
“No, Michelle. We’ll both help you and then I’ll drive you to the hospital.”
“I can’t let you go to that trouble, Syd.”
“I’ll see you tomorrow morning and Michelle, bring a pair of jeans in case your cast comes off.”
“Good thinking. I would hate to walk around with one unshaven leg,” she sa
id with a giggle.
“See you tomorrow.”
“Thank you, Sydney.”
Grace and Sydney helped Michelle down the steps the following morning and into the car.
“Have a good day, Grace.” Michelle called as she got settled into the car.
“See you, Doc.” Grace waived at her mother and Sydney. Before Sydney got in the car, Grace called out. “Have her back by midnight, Doc,” she said laughing as she went to her car.
“What did she say?” Michelle asked as Sydney got in the car.
“Your daughter is a smart ass.” Sydney answered without further explanation.
“I know,” Michelle said softly.
Sydney wheeled Michelle into the ER and through the doors with a wave at the nurses. She took her right to Doctor Patel.
“Hello, Doctor Patel,” Michelle said with her hand extended. “Thank you for taking the time to see me.”
“It is my pleasure, Ms. Richards. Let’s get that leg x-rayed and see how you’re healing.”
Sydney wheeled her to the x-ray department and inside.
“Syd, if you have something else to do, I’ll be fine on my own.”
“I’m fine. Let’s get you on the table.” Sydney helped Michelle out of the chair and lifted her onto the table.
“Thank you,” Michelle said in a whisper. She felt bad that Sydney was being so nice to her and she just walked away from her eighteen years ago leaving her heart in broken pieces.
After the x-ray was taken, Sydney brought the chair back into the room. She reached for Michelle. “I can do it, Syd.” Michelle got off the table and into the chair on her own. She could see the hurt on Sydney’s face. As Sydney wheeled Michelle back to Doctor Patel’s office. “It’s not that I don’t want you to help me, but I feel bad.”
“Why?”
“You’re being so nice to me and I certainly don’t deserve your thoughtfulness, Syd.”
Sydney stopped pushing and stood in front of Michelle. “You always treated me well, Michelle.”
“Until I refused to go with you to California.”
“I told you. I understand why you wouldn’t.” Sydney moved to the back of the chair and began pushing again. “It wasn’t your fault that I loved you more than you loved me.”
Michelle grabbed the wheels of the chair to stop the movement. She turned the chair so she was facing Sydney. “Don’t ever think that, Syd. It had nothing to do with how much I loved you. I was afraid of what my family would think.” Michelle took a breath. “Of what everyone would say and if you and I broke up, then I would have lost everything. Syd, I was a coward, but don’t ever think I didn’t love you as much as you loved me.”
