Second Opinions: A Lizzy and Dr. Darcy Story (Meryton Medical Romances Book 2)

by Ruby Cruz

  “Not everyone is as lucky as you, or any of us here, to be born with the luxury of safe housing, clean water, and accessible healthcare. Some people like to be able to share some of their knowledge and privilege to help those who truly need it as opposed to increasing their bottom line.” Nina’s eyes flashed, and I suspected that underneath the surface, she wasn’t nearly as placid as she appeared. A woman after my own heart. My girl crush grew.

  Caroline arched her perfectly sculpted brow, her expression practically dripping with disdain. “I’ll have you know my company donates hundreds of thousands of dollars to charities in Third World countries all over the globe. Just because I enjoy the luxuries I have earned and don’t want to be traipsing around the world teaching sex ed to the poor doesn’t make me a bad person.”

  “No, though it does border on self-centered and egocentric.”

  I stood up quickly and balanced on my crutches. “I’m going to the ladies room. Nina, why don’t you join me?” I didn’t give her a choice, just grabbed her arm and steered her to the back of the wine bar while Darcy attempted to placate Caroline, who was clearly incensed.

  “Don’t tell me you agree with her,” Nina rounded on me as soon as we were in the small rest room.

  “I didn’t say that, but I can’t say I disagree with her either.” She seemed ready to cut into me, but I continued. “I never had the chance to give up my life and go on a two year tour helping people around the world. You make it sound amazing, to be able to have that impact on so many people. But everyone makes contributions in different ways, some more than others.”

  The anger seemed to drain out of her, though her eyes still glittered with emotion. “I didn’t say that everyone should drop everything to join the Peace Corps. It was the way she said it, like I was crazy to want to spend time helping people rather than paint my nails fire engine red.”

  “Believe me, I understand. Caroline Bingley is not my favorite person in the world. In fact, she probably rates there next to Osama bin Laden.”

  “Then why did you invite her here?”

  “Because I’m trying to take the high road. She’s after Will and she hates me. And there’s that saying about keeping your enemies close.”

  “Well, if you ever want to take her out of the picture, I have some Ukrainian friends who owe me a few favors.”

  ~

  When we returned to the table, Caroline was gone. “She said she had an early conference call and needed to get back to her hotel,” Darcy explained, though the real reason for her early departure was evident in his eyes.

  “I’m sorry for leaving you with damage control,” I apologized, laying a hand on his.

  “No worries. I have to admit her blasé attitude was beginning to irritate me. How she and Charles share the same parentage amazes me at times.” This was the most disparaging remark he’d ever made against Caroline, and my heart swelled even more for him.

  “I’m sorry I couldn’t meet her brother,” Nina said sincerely. “I think he and I probably have more in common.”

  “You two are quite similar,” Darcy admitted, “which is probably why I’m friends with you both. But, unfortunately, he has to be back to work in the morning.”

  “He’s married to your sister?” she clarified. When I nodded, she sighed. “The good ones are always taken.”

  “Or gay. Don’t forget gay,” I added.

  She laughed and took a deep drink of her wine. “I can see why you like her, Will,” she said with a grin.

  “You’ll find someone also,” he told her.

  “What makes you think I already haven’t?” she asked enigmatically.

  His brows knitted. “I just assumed…”

  “You should know by now to never assume anything about me.” Her open grin shifted into something somewhat more mysterious.

  “You’re right. I’d forgotten.”

  “I’m glad to see you happy, though.” She drank again and turned to me. “In medical school, Will was always so serious.”

  “Shocker.”

  “If you two start ganging up on me, I’m going back to the manor,” he threatened, but we ignored him.

  “He was so focused on getting the grades and being perfect, he forgot that learning to be a doctor was so much more than memorizing anatomical parts or every component of the clotting cascade. When we were in school, I made him volunteer with me at the soup kitchen.”

  “You never told me that,” I said to Darcy in surprise.

  “You never asked,” he retorted.

  I could imagine a twelve years younger Darcy, so serious, probably sheltered from the seedier side of the world, serving food to homeless people in New York City. I remembered how impassioned he’d been when talking about the underprivileged patients he’d had while working in the city, and I realized I had Nina to thank for giving him that experience, for making him see the human beings beyond the dirt and despair. I also realized that if Ana hadn’t gotten in trouble with George Wickham, thus precipitating his move to New Jersey to be closer to her, he probably would have continued to work in the city.

  “Anyway,” Nina continued, “one thing Will always told me about finding the right person to be with was that she had to present her best face to the world. I guess it just took him a while to realize that the best face isn’t always the one you can see with your eyes.”

  I fingered the rim of my wine glass as I considered her statement. “I think there’s a compliment in there somewhere.”

  “I’m just saying that, when I first met him, he would’ve been drawn more to the Caroline Bingley types. I’m glad he found you instead. You seem more like a…kindred spirit.”

  “And that was definitely a compliment. But I have to ask how you two became friends in the first place.”

  She snorted out a laugh. “Oh, believe me, it wasn’t by choice. I thought he was a pompous, self-important prick, and he thought I was some hippie idealist. We were assigned to be in the same project group our first year and had to learn how to work with each other. And we found that maybe the other person’s worldview wasn’t quite as bad as we thought.”

  “To see beyond the surface is to see the beauty within,” he stated. “I believe that is what you told me after my first time at the soup kitchen. It’s something I continually have to remind myself, but that I try to practice every day.”

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  Morning Outing

  Darcy awakened me with a soft kiss, a caress on the cheek. I could never tire of doing this, of waking up next to him every morning. It had become like a potent, addictive drug, one habit I never wanted to break.

  “I have to get up. Conference call,” he explained, his eyes serious and sad.

  I checked the clock. It was barely seven. “I don’t understand.”

  “It’s complicated, but it’s likely to tie us up the whole morning. If you want, I can have Nico take you around and see the sights if you get bored.”

  “I’ll figure it out. Don’t worry about me. We’re here for your grandfather’s funeral. I don’t expect to be entertained.”

  He kissed me again, his lips lingering and eliciting a soft sigh. “I’ll call you as soon as we’re done. Hopefully I’ll be able to meet you for lunch in town.”

  I watched him climb out of bed and pad to the bathroom, and then I laid back down. What was I going to do today? Classes didn’t start again for me until Monday, and I’d already read a good portion of the first week’s assignments according to the course syllabi posted online.

  I wondered if Ana was up - we still hadn’t talked after our argument the day before, and I wanted to make sure we cleared the air between us before much more time passed.

  I shifted my weight and tentatively swung my legs to the side. When I tested my ankle, it was still painful and tender, but not nearly as swollen as it had been the day before. I hoped it would stay that way, so I wrapped it back up in the Ace bandage and tested it gingerly befor
e resignedly reaching for the crutches by the bed.

  A few moments later, I made my way down the hallway and knocked on Ana’s door. When I could hear sounds of obvious movement from within the room, I waited patiently until the door opened. Ana was already dressed as if for business in a pale yellow blouse paired with a slim navy skirt and heels.

  She appeared slightly surprised to see me. “Lizzy, good morning. I’m afraid I don’t have much time to talk. I’m sure Will told you we have a meeting this morning.” Her tone was neutral.

  “I know. This shouldn’t take too much time.”

  Without giving her much choice, I entered the room. It was decorated vastly differently from the one Will and I were staying in, the colors much more feminine, with flowered drapes and upholstery, and elegant lines and curves in the furniture. She gestured towards the love seat, and I sat dutifully as she maneuvered a wingback chair to sit across from me.

  “I’m sorry about yesterday,” I said quickly. “I shouldn’t have argued with you. You know these people much better than I do and yesterday was hardly the setting to be arguing with you about things.”

  Her eyes bore into mine, the color and shape so similar to her brother’s. Finally, she said, “I’m the one who should apologize, because you’re right. You’re entitled to your own opinions and just because I don’t like someone shouldn’t preclude you from talking to that person, especially when a lot of what I remember about him is based off of memories made years ago and from hearsay.” She paused, obviously formulating something else in her mind.

  “Sometimes humiliating memories are the most powerful ones.”

  “And that’s also part of the reason why I had the reaction I did. He reminds me of George,” she admitted, a dark flush creeping onto her cheeks.

  “George Wickham?”

  “Who else? That suave demeanor, handsome blond, womanizing ways. Seeing Chase, how he was flirting with you, brought me back to my junior year in college. I know it wasn’t that long ago, but I still feel like a chubby preteen girl whenever I think about him. Seeing Chase reminds me of how much I’ve changed and how I never want to be that girl again.”

  “I’m sorry he has that effect on you.”

  “He can’t help the type of guy he is. He’s like all the good-looking guys I’ve known: arrogant, self-centered, always looking for ways to get what he wants regardless of the consequences. I’m just mature enough now to not fall for the act anymore. But just because I have my own hang-ups about him doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be civil to him.”

  “Your brother doesn’t seem to like him much either.”

  “As far as I know, they got along pretty well when we were younger. They were too far apart in age to really hang out, but all us kids would go to the beach and go swimming and stuff. It was when Will decided to go to medical school that things got strained, but I think that was more due to my grandfather not approving of Will becoming a doctor and not having an interest in the business.”

  I suspected there was more to the story than what she was telling me, or even more that she wasn’t aware of, but knowing she was pressed for time, I didn’t push the subject further. She blew out a breath, and a wistful smile tugged at her lips. “I should’ve been the one to come to you and apologize. I’m sorry I was such a bitch yesterday.”

  “No worries. I just didn’t want there to be any bad blood between us, especially since I’m not on the greatest of terms with your aunt.”

  I wanted to give her a hug, more to assure myself that everything was indeed forgiven, but she was faster. She stood and leaned forward, wrapping her arms around my neck and squeezing hard. “You’re one of the best things to happen to my brother in a very long time. She’ll come around.” She pulled away and looked me square in the face. “I really do have to go. I need to finish a presentation for this morning.”

  She promised to try and meet with me later that day, either for coffee or dinner, if time permitted.

  By the time I made my way back to the room, Darcy was already out of the shower and halfway dressed in a charcoal suit. “Hey, handsome,” I greeted, not being able to resist crossing the room to kiss him. “You look amazing.”

  “So do you,” he answered, deepening the kiss slightly before I pulled away reluctantly.

  I laughed. “I’m hardly dressed.” I glanced at my t-shirt and sleep shorts.

  “That’s what I like about it,” he answered with a licentious grin before checking his watch. “I wish I didn’t have to go.”

  “You probably should before I start dragging you back to bed.”

  “Don’t tempt me.” He kissed me again until my knees buckled and his breaths were ragged. “That was a bad idea. Now I definitely don’t want to go.” His hand roamed down my back until I stopped him.

  “Stop! You need to go.”

  “To be continued.” He pecked my cheek and when he was gone, a chill overtook me, his absence depriving me of his warmth.

  I showered, careful not to get my stitches wet, and dressed in one of the new outfits Ana had bought for me: a sleeveless dress patterned with a mint green design that I probably would’ve never picked for myself, but had to admit looked nice.

  As much as I wanted to eat breakfast on the balcony and just watch the waves roll in all morning, I felt uncomfortable ordering room service by myself. Not that I thought the staff would balk at the request, but I still felt like the slightly unwelcome guest and didn’t want to be viewed as taking advantage of the amenities.

  So I painstakingly made my way downstairs. I’d barely made it to the kitchen when one of the maids found me, her expression horrified. “Miss Bennett! If you wanted something to eat, we would’ve brought it to you.”

  “I know. I just…I needed the walk,” I explained sheepishly. “Could I have breakfast on the patio please?”

  “Of course.”

  Scrambled egg whites with goat cheese and spinach, coffee, and half a grapefruit were served to me as I enjoyed the breeze from the patio. I wondered why Dr. DeBourgh chose to live in the city when she could’ve lived here. The view was spectacular, the relentless surf pounding the shore, the sounds of the sea soothing and musical. I didn’t think anything could be more peaceful or more beautiful.

  By the time I finished eating, it was only nine and I contemplated what to do the rest of the morning. I considered doing what Darcy had suggested, and even though I hated the idea of being chauffeured around town, I hated the idea of being cooped up and waited on even more, so I asked if Nico was available.

  “Of course, Miss Bennett,” was the answer. I wondered what the answer would’ve been if I’d asked if I could be driven to the next town to buy drug paraphernalia and hire male strippers for my entertainment. I suspected the answer would’ve been the same.

  Within fifteen minutes, Nico had the town car brought around and assisted me into the back seat. “Where to?”

  “Well, my phone decided to take a little swim yesterday, so could you take me to a place where I can get it replaced?”

  He nodded. “The store doesn’t open for another forty minutes. But I can drive you around town if you’d like to see a bit more of the area. Unless you’d like to rest instead.”

  “I’m tired of resting,” I admitted. “Wherever you want to drive to, that’s where we can go.”

  “I doubt Dr. Darcy wants me to bring you out to the driving range and for a round of eighteen holes,” he joked.

  “Do you golf?”

  “Every chance I get, which isn’t too often now.” He told me about his two month old son, Alejandro, and how he loved the flexibility of his job. “The family pays well and gives me benefits and I get to read while waiting.” He was taking night classes at NYU and eventually hoped to get an MBA. “Mr. DeBourgh was pretty cool, always giving me advice on the types of classes to take and stuff, which stocks were doing well, that type of thing. He was a tough guy, but I’m gonna miss him.”

  He drove
me around the area, pointed out local landmarks, homes of the more famous residents, where the best restaurants and views were. He told me stories about some of the more colorful things he’d seen while working for the DeBourgh family the past five years. One young starlet had apparently shown up drunk and naked on the DeBourgh property (a rumored by-product of Chase Hammond’s licentious ways), while another story consisted of a foreign dignitary trying to steal a Faberge egg on display in the sitting room. Yet another guest, whom Nico refused to name, had been found cavorting with not one but two of the maids in one of the guest bedrooms.

  By the time ten o’clock came, I’d been enjoying myself so much I nearly forgot the whole purpose of our little trip. I walked into the store with my broken phone and emerged an hour later feeling much poorer but with a brand new phone that made my old one look like a relic from the Stone Age.

  “Where to now?” Nico asked me as I lingered by the vehicle door. I glanced down the street. I’d noticed the sign for the Heritage Gallery earlier and wondered if it was open.

  “You know, I think I’m going to try walking down the street. I’d like to get another cup of coffee and see if the Heritage Gallery is open.”

  “I can drive you down there.”

  “That’s not necessary. I need the bit of exercise and I’m going a bit nuts sitting down all the time.”

  “Are you sure?” he asked with some concern.

  “No, but I’ll be sure to call you if it gets to be too much.” I waved my new phone at him.

  He appeared uncertain as he nodded. “I’ll meet you at the gallery at eleven if you haven’t called me before then.”

  “Deal.”

  I made my way down the sidewalk and stopped at the café I’d noticed earlier. Because I had no way of using the crutches as I sipped my latte, I sat at one of the outdoor tables and drank my coffee while playing with my new phone. I dialed Luke’s number, but it went straight to voice mail, then noticed I had a new text from Darcy. A text? He hated texting.

  Are you ok?

  Just got a new phone. Am now having coffee in town.