The Ties That Bind (Miss Taken Identity #3)

by Cleo Scornavacca

  Tommy wasn’t going to let me get my way, as usual. He was infuriating. He chose to tease me and told me to find another place to work out my differences with Michael. Why should I do that? I mean Rain was my sister, after all. It was her party. My needs deserved to come first. I stormed towards the door to leave. At the threshold, I stopped dead in my tracks and realized what I was doing, yet again. I was putting me first. I was acting like ‘me’ was the only person of any concern in this situation.

  I looked down, shook my head and I stood there for a brief moment disgusted with myself. I contemplated what I was about to say to Tommy, but when I looked up at him, I knew. It was simple.

  “Tommy, I’m sorry.” My voice softened, as I recoiled.

  Tommy tilted his head to one side and pursed his lips, while he released a deep and disapproving growl that clearly showed his frustration in me being here unannounced with my demands.

  “Raven, I don’t want you to be sorry. I just want you to understand one thing: I’m not Mike. You can stomp your feet all you want, but I’m not going to let you have your way. So let me explain to you how this is going to go. When I get back from Bali, I’m heading down to the shore house on Tuesday morning to work on the book with Rain and I intend to stay there for the entire week and for the party. I suggest you get over it or make other arrangements to be with my brother, especially if you feel you can’t be in the same room with the two of us.” Tommy didn’t yell, nor did he waver.

  He was going to do what he wanted, when he wanted. No one, not even me, would be able to change his mind.

  I knew I was defeated and I felt somewhat shaky, so I decided to make my exit without uttering another word. I proceeded to walk out the door, when all I could remember was the sensation of two strong arms that enveloped me, while Tommy’s concerned voice called out my name.

  Chapter Four

  Negotiations

  Tommy

  Raven never gave up that easily when there was something she wanted. She was relentless, but now she appeared physically spent. This may have been the reason why she blacked out. I quickly caught her, as she was about to fall. I lifted her up into my arms and carried her over to the couch. I called her name a few times to no avail. Then I called 911.

  In the ambulance, the paramedics checked her vitals. It appeared her blood pressure was extremely low. They used what I assumed were smelling salts to revive her. They worked. She was groggy and somewhat out of it, but at least she was conscious.

  Once we arrived at the ER, she was taken off the stretcher and placed in a hospital bed for further examination. At this point, I decided to contact Rain. I was just about to leave the room when I heard Raven bellow.

  “Stop smothering me! I’m not an invalid! I just passed out! Tommy, please don’t leave me here alone, please.” Raven pleaded.

  “Babe, I’m not leaving. I’m just going to call Rain and let her know what’s happening.” I turned to Raven and raised my hand to show her my phone.

  “Don’t call Rain now. Let’s wait to see what the doctor has to say and then we can call her later. There’s no reason to worry her unnecessarily.”

  “Raven, she’s your sister. She would want me to call her.”

  “Please, Tommy, let’s just wait. Please.” S immediately he began to beg.

  I shook my head and put my phone away, as I settled in the chair near her bed. Raven appeared more at ease. After some time and several tests, the doctor came into the room to speak with us.

  “Good morning, Miss Medici, I’m Dr. Marks. How are you feeling right now?”

  “Good Morning, Doctor, I’m feeling somewhat tired, but other than that, better than I did when I first arrived.”

  “I see. Have you had an episode where you felt faint or had fainted recently?”

  I wondered why the doctor was asking Raven if she had gone through this before. What was it that Raven was keeping from me?

  “Now that you mention it, yes, I have been going through periods of dizziness, but I just assumed it was because I forgot to eat. I’m a lawyer and I don’t eat on a regular schedule. My case load and my appointments for the day dictate everything. As soon as I would eat something the feeling would pass and I would feel fine. Today, though, I had eaten breakfast after my run.This fainting episode does have me slightly concerned, only because it came out of nowhere.”

  “As well it should, Miss Medici. You are suffering from adrenal fatigue. Your adrenal glands are not working properly. Your various Vitamin B levels are in the gutter, as well. Let me ask you something? I understand that you are a lawyer, as you have stated, but are you going through any personal stress in addition to your workload?”

  Raven didn’t answer.

  “Miss Medici?” The doctor repeated.

  Raven looked to me. I nodded slowly to coax her forward to answer his question.

  Raven stared at her hands and with some apprehension she explained to the doctor what she had been going through in the last several months. Raven appeared uneasy when discussing her personal problems with Dr. Marks, but he had to be aware of the full story to evaluate and diagnose her situation properly.

  “I’ve been dealing with many personal issues and an increased workload at the firm. My life has been turned upside down recently to say the least.” She timidly admitted.

  “I see. Have you ever been diagnosed with any blood disorders? I ask, because you state in your paperwork that both your parents have Thalassemia traits.” The doctor inquired.

  “Yes, my mother and father are both carriers. Well, my mother passed away, but my dad is living and he is a carrier of it. My twin sister Rain has the disorder. Although, it is under control now.”

  “Do you live with anyone?”

  “No? Why should that matter?” Raven was confused by the doctor’s last question. I had to admit, so was I.

  “Given your family history and your blood work, it appears that you are completely burnt out. I will tell you, Miss Medici, this is not something you can take lightly. You're going to have to let your body recover and during that time you will need some help.”

  “Doctor, with all due respect, I don’t feel burnt out. I went for my daily run this morning and I physically felt good, albeit, I was little tired, but as I said, my job and my personal life have been more challenging as of late; otherwise I’m fine and I will get through it. To me this is all very explainable.”

  “Well, Miss Medici, you are not physically fit at all and as for your emotional status, that is not my scope of practice, but I will tell you that a combination of mental and physical exhaustion, especially given your family genetics, is nothing to disregard. You need complete bedrest. You must take care of yourself now before something worse happens. The dizziness you have been experiencing are warning signs and the fainting spell that you suffered today is just the beginning of what will continue to occur if you don’t start addressing this issue immediately.” The doctor was adamant and he wasn’t going to listen to Raven’s explanation.

  I could tell by his reaction he had seen her situation far too often. He was stern and wanted her to know that she couldn’t ignore her health without suffering the consequences.

  I decided as the doctor spoke that I wouldn’t let Raven dismiss any of this, either. I knew how debilitating it had been for Rain and although Raven didn’t technically have Rain’s disorder, what she was going through could still very well put her health at risk. I may have overstepped, and I was positive that there would be fallout with Raven later, but I interrupted the doctor with a plan that would keep Raven off of her feet for possibly a week or at the very least this weekend.

  “Excuse me, doctor. I’m sorry to interrupt you, but I think I may have a solution to help Raven recuperate. I’d be more than happy to take care of her, so that the state of her health improves.”

  “And you are?”

  “I apologize. I’m Raven’s longtime friend, Tommy Conte. I was with her when she blacked out. I actually grew up with her s
ister Rain and I’m quite familiar with Rain’s blood disorder and their family history.” I stated, as I shook the doctor’s hand.

  “I see, so let me ask you something, Mr. Conte, does this mean you would have the free time available to help Miss Medici out while she takes the break she needs to rest over the next few weeks? This would include doing things for her, such as errands, doctor visits, and making sure she is eating properly, etc?”

  Raven didn’t give me a chance to answer the doctor’s question. She blared, as only she could.

  “The next few weeks! You can’t be serious! My life doesn’t afford me the time to be off my feet for the next few weeks. I have a law practice to focus on. I have clients that need my legal expertise, and I might add, pay me very well for that. I’m not able to put it all on hold for several weeks just because I’m tired. The rest that you require of me, doctor, is simply out of the question. Can’t you just give me some sort of vitamin shot or something to boost my energy level, so I can keep going?” Raven huffed and puffed, as her hands and arms lashed out into the air like a defiant child.

  I, for one, was glad that the doctor wasn’t having any of Raven’s nonsense.

  He stared at Raven with an unmoving, displeased look on his face. Then he looked to me, but all I could do was smirk. I knew how he felt. She was one tough lady to deal with when she wasn’t getting exactly what she wanted. I had the feeling that this conversation was going to get far worse before it started to level out.

  “Miss Medici, I am not the one who came in here on a stretcher with a blood pressure far below the normal limits for a woman your age. It is not my body that is completely dehydrated, nor am I the person with the dangerously low blood sugar or vitamin B-12 levels. That would be you. Now, I suggest you follow my instructions or you can expect to find yourself right back in here again, in the not so far off future.”

  My smirk turned to a grin, as I saw the expression on Raven’s face. I literally turned away, so I wouldn’t burst out laughing. She seemed shocked, almost dumbfounded, that someone would address her in such a way as the doctor had done.

  After a small, silent reprieve, Raven addressed the doctor.

  “I appreciate your concern, but what you are asking of me is impossible with my schedule. It just can’t be done.” Raven maintained her viewpoint on the subject of taking care of herself.

  “I can’t make you take care of yourself, Raven, but I will write down my recommendations and I can almost promise you that if you don’t change your habits, I will be seeing you here again, very soon.” Dr. Marks repeated, as he filled out his orders.

  Dr. Marks then shook my hand and proceeded to leave the room. I walked out with him. Once out of earshot from Raven I was able to speak more freely with him.

  “Doc, what do you need for me to do?” I inquired.

  He looked perplexed. “Mr. Conte, can you be sure that you want to take this on? Clearly Miss Medici is not one to take orders from anyone.”

  “Yeah, well, she is going to have to this time. I know I have my hands full with her, but I assure you that I intend on making her do exactly what the doctor ordered. If I have to, I’ll call in reinforcements.”

  “Reinforcements?”

  “I’ll call her sister, Rain. She can get her to do almost anything. At the very least, I will threaten to call her.” I smiled.

  The doctor chuckled. “I can see that you have pretty good insight on that lady in there. These are my recommendations, and I’ve also included my office and emergency numbers. I’m not always on duty at the hospital, but I do maintain a private practice here in the city in case you’re able to persuade Raven to come in and see me as a patient. Mr. Conte, please call me with an update on her, and if you have any questions, or should need any help with her. From the looks of things, I would say you're in for a fight with her every step of the way.”

  “You’re not kidding. I appreciate your help. My schedule is freed up for the next couple of months, so I’ll do my best to make sure she does come in for an appointment and I will keep a close eye on her, as well.”

  “She’s lucky to have a good friend like you. I hope you’ll be able to convince her.” The doctor said goodbye and left me to handle Raven.

  I went back to the room just as Raven was about to get dressed, so she could make a quick escape.

  “Not so fast, babe. You're not going anywhere.” I stated, as I took her clothes out of her hands.

  “Tommy, you heard what I told the doctor. I can’t possibly be laid up for several weeks. I’m too busy.” She reached up for her clothes, but because I was taller, I held them above my head, too high for her to grasp.

  “Stop fooling around and give me my clothes.” She demanded.

  “Not a chance, now get back in bed and wait for the doctor to sign your release and then I’ll take you home.”

  Raven grimaced, but did as she was told. The nurse came in and stated that she could dress and they would take her downstairs, so she could leave. To my surprise, she didn't give them any trouble about leaving in a wheelchair. She either did it to appease them, so she could get out of the hospital faster, or she was starting to feel unsteady again and didn’t want anyone to notice. I felt it was the latter.

  I went downstairs and hailed a cab to take Raven back to my house. She would probably throw a fit once she realized that she wasn’t going to her place, but she didn’t have much of a choice. She didn’t bring any money with her and she left her purse on the table in my foyer. She would have had to come back with me to get her things at the very least, before she returned to her home.

  Once we got back to my place, I unlocked the door and Raven, true to form pushed past me so she could retrieve her bag and then leave.

  I leaned in the doorway to block her from leaving.

  “Where do you think you're going?” I teased.

  “You know perfectly well that I’m going home.”

  “You are home.”

  “What did you just say?” She let out an appalled chuckle.

  “You heard me. This is your new home for the next few weeks, until we get your health back in order.”

  “You can’t possibly think I’m going to do what you tell me to do.”

  “I don’t think. I know. You’re going to do exactly what Dr. Marks requires you to do and I’m going to hold you to it.”

  “Tommy, get out of my way.”

  I didn’t move an inch.

  “Are you going to do as I ask or not?” She continued.

  “Not.”

  “Be serious. I have a huge workload; I can’t take any time off right now. I promise I will when I’m done with the cases that I’m currently working on. Besides, you're leaving for Bali today. You still have plenty of time to make your flight.”

  “Don’t bullshit me, Raven. You’re going to continue to do what you always do until you end up back in the ER again or worse. Bali can wait. The waves will still be there in a few weeks after you are feeling better.”

  “Don’t be so dramatic, Tommy.”

  “Wow, that’s rich coming from you, the queen of all drama.” I said, slightly annoyed.

  I waited for some back talk from her, but instead she quietly walked away from me and went into the living room. She slowly sat down in the sectional with a soft thud, as if she was defeated. This concerned me. Raven never gave up; now I needed to find out why she so easily this time.

  I stood in the opening between the foyer and the living room. I decided it was best to proceed with caution. Raven was like a cat backed into a corner when she was confronted with something she didn’t agree with. I knew at some point her claws would come out. Yet, she didn’t fight back at all. She just sat there slumped in the corner of the sectional. She wasn’t emotional. She didn’t raise her voice or throw a tantrum. She appeared crushed and exhausted. I sat down next to her to see what I could do. Perhaps I went too far with my insistence that she follow what the doctor said. She was a grown woman. She had always made her own
decisions. Who was I to act as if I was calling the shots here? I shouldn’t have forced my actions of what I believed would help her get better onto her. I should have listened to her and what she wanted to do, but my concerns about her health overrode my common sense.

  I reached for her hands and intertwined my fingers with hers. Surprisingly, she didn’t pull away.

  “Raven, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to impose my opinions about this situation on you. I know you wouldn’t take any chances with your health.” I looked to her for an answer.