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

by Ruby Cruz

  “I can’t believe you’ve been able to accomplish all that. Next thing you’ll be telling me you’ve built a time machine and have gone back to the year 1985.”

  I rolled my eyes at the reference. “You can’t help yourself, can you?”

  “No, I can’t. But you love me even more because of it.”

  “Yes, I do.” Because I knew that even though he wasn’t perfect, neither was I. We loved each other, despite all our quirks and neuroses. In fact, I felt we balanced each other out, made each other better people.

  For years, my mother had railed at me to find the perfect man. Even after all the fights and misunderstandings of the past few months, I understood that while Darcy was not perfect, he was the perfect man for me.

  EPILOGUE

  The sea air was cool, almost chilly, but I much preferred it over the close humidity of the previous summer. Dr. Catherine, as she now insisted I call her since she had to “keep up appearances” that our relationship was more amicable than it really was, had planned our engagement party just prior to Memorial Day.

  As unpleasant the previous circumstances of my last visit to the DeBourgh Manor in the Hamptons, I couldn’t deny the raw beauty of the place, especially now that it was decked out in arrangements of spring flowers and twinkle lights reminiscent of a Kinkade.

  I commented as such to Chase, who’d been first to arrive to the party along with his mother. “I can’t deny the commercial popularity of Kinkade’s work,” he stated, “though I think I could do it better given the chance.”

  “Wow, arrogant much?” Ana piped in, overhearing our conversation. She seared Chase with a cold stare so similar to her aunt’s I almost expected a silver streak to spontaneously bloom out from her temple.

  “Only around you, sweetheart, ‘cuz I know how much you like it,” he answered back with a rakish grin.

  She narrowed her gaze and stomped away.

  “Even though I really want to ask, I won’t,” I said, hoping my comment would help to elicit some more information about their strange relationship.

  “You don’t want to know,” he answered with a heavy sigh, his countenance falling serious. “And believe me, I want to forget.”

  On that enigmatic note, he walked away and Darcy joined me on the terrace, his arm snaking around me to pull me to his side. “Do I want to ask what that was all about?”

  I followed his gaze to his sister, who had wandered to my favorite area on the grounds, the private overlook of the beach, while Chase had drained his tumbler and accosted a waiter for a refill. “Probably not.” At Darcy’s stormy expression, I placated him. “Ana is a grown woman with a successful business. As much as she loves you, she doesn’t need her big brother riding to the rescue all the time. She needs to handle some things on her own.”

  “But as her big brother, it’s impossible for me to just step back and watch her suffer on her own.”

  He had a point there - Ana looked quite miserable. But I knew in my gut that this was something out of Darcy’s power to fix. “Please, give her some time to work it out on her own. Trust me.”

  He squeezed me around the middle and kissed me on the temple. “I do trust you. It’s Chase Hammond I don’t trust.”

  “I still don’t understand why you don’t like him. He’s not a bad guy.”

  “He and George Wickham just seem like they’re cut from the same cloth.”

  “They may be similar in looks and they like women a lot, but I think that’s where the similarities end.” He didn’t appear convinced. “George victimized and targeted women for his own amusement and financial gain. His biggest talent was insinuating himself into people’s lives and finding ways to fund his gambling addiction. Chase’s biggest offense so far consists of exuding an over-sexualized aura and making me feel uncomfortable.”

  “Are you saying you’re attracted to him?”

  “No. I mean, he’s good looking, yes, but…it’s like he has so much passion in him for his art, he can’t help but leak it from his pores. Just look at that picture he painted for us. You have to admit he’s amazingly talented.”

  He made a noncommittal sound and I brushed the lapel of his sport coat. “You also forget that he went against your aunt and eventually decided not to try to come between you and me.”

  “You’re wrong - I haven’t forgotten that point. In fact, it’s one of the main reasons why I dislike him so much because it implies he might have succeeded.”

  “But he didn’t, and he wouldn’t have if he had tried.” I kissed his cheek and then smoothed away the lipstick smudge I left behind. “Just let it go.”

  The scowl on his face remained. “I just don’t have a good feeling about Ana and him.”

  “Look at you, trying to analyze innuendo and emotions. I’m proud of you,” I teased before kissing away the furrow between his brows and the frown on his lips. “They’ll be fine,” I assured him. “The worst thing you could do is march over to Ana and demand what’s going on. It’d probably catapult her straight into his arms.”

  He gave a small laugh. “You are probably right about that.” He kissed my temple. “I have a little something for you.”

  “What?”

  “I’d call it an engagement gift but…well, you’ll see.” He retrieved a business sized envelope from the inside of his suit jacket. “I found this the other day.”

  “You didn’t have to get me anything. The ring was plenty.”

  “Considering what you were willing to do for me…it wasn’t nearly enough.” He handed the envelope to me. “Open it.”

  Confused, I lifted the flap and found scraps of paper. “I don’t get it.”

  “This was sent to my office the other day. Apparently, it’s a notarized copy of the prenuptial agreement you signed for my aunt a few months ago.”

  My stomach sunk. I hadn’t told him about the agreement. “I’m sorry. I should’ve told you about it, but I didn’t want you to be upset with your aunt.”

  “I know. Believe me, I understand why you didn’t tell me about it. But I was upset with her, and I spoke to her about it the other day. She actually seemed surprised you hadn’t told me about it. This is the result of our discussion.” He gestured to the scraps in my hand.

  “What?”

  “The agreement. I tore it up. Of course, it’s your choice if you want to enter into one, but I don’t want you to feel obligated to sign it because of me.”

  “I didn’t do it out of obligation.”

  “I know. And I thank you. It must not have been easy having to deal with her. But it’s done. I’ve had it rescinded.”

  “You didn’t have to do that.”

  “I know, but I wanted to. So, happy engagement. Feel free to rob me blind.”

  I raised a dispassionate eyebrow. “And for that comment, I may do that just to spite you.”

  We were distracted when a stocky blond in army dress blues barreled through the gate, grabbed me, and lifted me into the air in a dramatic embrace followed by a solid kiss on the lips. When Ed finally released me, I had barely time to register the deepening blush on my cheeks when he grabbed Darcy in a similar hug, minus the kiss. “Look at you two, getting engaged. I missed way too much being overseas.”

  “I’m glad you could make it!” Darcy said as he slapped Ed on the back in a friendly manner. “Although I would kindly ask you not to kiss my fiancée again.”

  “Hah! I never thought I’d hear the word fiancée coming from you. I’m proud of you, man. All grown up and getting hitched. About time.”

  “You should talk. I don’t see a wedding ring on your finger.”

  “Some of us weren’t meant to be attached to one woman for the rest of their lives.”

  “Or perhaps you can’t get a date.”

  “Oh, that’s where you’re wrong, my friend. I have plenty of dates, with women, I might add. In fact, Kenzie is right over there by the bar getting us some drinks. But sometimes I think, wh
y settle for these young chicks when I have all the woman I need right here?”

  He winked at us, then sneaked up behind Dr. Catherine and grabbed her in a bear hug. She sputtered and slapped at his hands. “Edward Fitzwilliam, you put me down this instant! I don’t know how I’ve tolerated you for so long.”

  “It’s because you love me and you know it.” He kissed her on the cheek reverently, and commented in a much soberer tone, “I’m so sorry I couldn’t be here for your father’s funeral last summer.”

  Her flustered and irate expression gave way to a much softer and more affectionate one. The expression seemed odd on her face, since I’d seen nothing even bordering affectionate from her in…well, ever. “It’s quite all right, Edward. You can’t help where your job takes you. I’m glad you were able to make it here today.”

  “So am I. You’ve outdone yourself, as always. The party is spectacular.”

  I shook my head as I watched their interaction. “I just don’t get how Ed manages to do that. He’s the only one she seems to tolerate that type of behavior from.”

  “He has that knack, I suppose.”

  “Sort of like how you are with my aunt?” I asked as I watched Aunt Jo walk onto the terrace arm in arm with (gasp!) Jack Holden. “Looks like you have some competition for her affections.”

  Darcy chuckled as we approached the couple. “Jo, don’t tell me you’ve replaced me with this young man.”

  She barked a laugh. “Never, Dr. Darcy. Though Jack here does a fine job of helping take care of me also.”

  I smiled at the rugged looking man who seemed slightly out of place amongst the elegant place settings and decorations on the terrace.

  When I saw my mother and Hal arrive with Jane and her family in tow, I thought it so strange, seeing my old family, my old life, colliding with my new. Chloe escaped from Charlie’s arms to run to the edge of the terrace and point excitedly to the beach. “I want to swim!” she squealed excitedly.

  Jane and Charlie patiently explained that the water was too cold and that they were there for a party, not to swim. “But it could be a beach party!” she argued. I couldn’t exactly argue with her logic. A beach party sounded a lot more fun than the elegant soiree actually planned.

  Guests trickled in. Some of my friends from the hospital arrived: Lydia, Kate, Mary, followed by Luke and Colin and other associates of Dr. Catherine, physicians from Darcy’s practice, Darcy’s prep school classmates, and other friends and families of the DeBourgh and Darcy family that I may have met before during Walter DeBourgh’s funeral but don’t remember meeting. I almost sighed with relief when Nina and Emilia showed up - familiar faces and people I actually liked talking to.

  Doctors, nurses, business people, family, friends, neighbors - all mingling and eating and conversing over everything and nothing. Seeing everyone co-mingling was strange and disconcerting but at the same time wonderful. The sight of our worlds colliding without the universe imploding was strange and awe-inspiring. They were here for us. For Darcy and me.

  And even though this wasn’t our actual wedding, it felt like somewhat of a precursor, with the fancy decorations and three-tiered cake and all our family and friends gathered to celebrate us. In that moment, even though all was not perfect, everything felt right. We were where we were meant to be, and the wedding that would take place within the next year was just a formality.

  While the diamond on my finger symbolized the commitment I made to become Darcy’s wife, the gathering of our friends and loved ones seemed more a symbol of our coming union than any words could express. These were the compartments of our lives coming together to celebrate Darcy and me, and no simple band of gold or platinum seemed enough to express the bond we felt for each other. The camaraderie amongst all the people here, even Dr. Catherine, who loved her nephew enough to put aside her negative feelings for me, seemed to define our love for each other more than any ring of precious metal could.

  The sea breeze picked up, and the cool salt air filled my lungs. Love swelled within me, pushing out any residual feelings of resentment or fear.

  No matter what attempted to come between us, I knew within my heart, Darcy and I would fight to overcome.

  Love may not always conquer all, but we would surely fight like hell to make sure it had a chance.

  The End

  If you liked Second Opinions, stay tuned for a sneak peek of Ana’s story in Broken Heart Rehab: A Modern Georgiana Darcy Story

  BONUS CHAPTER

  Broken Heart Rehab: A Modern Georgiana Darcy Story

  Ana stared into the waves but didn’t see them. After all these years, it seemed it had always been Chase. Now that she thought about it, her relationship with George had only existed because he’d had an uncanny physical resemblance to her one-time childhood friend.

  She thought back to that time years ago when they were children. She’d told Lizzy he’d been mean to her, but that had only been half the story. She and Chase had been inseparable friends at first, chasing each other through the sand, playing in the waves as children play. For a while, he’d been more brother to her than her own, and a friend when all the other little girls would rather play with dolls than dirt.

  Aunt Catherine hadn’t approved of the friendship, of course, had thought her behavior unladylike and improper. But Ana hadn’t wanted to be proper. She’d wanted to have fun and build sandcastles and dig for shells and sea glass.

  Until her parents’ deaths, she’d spent summers with her aunt and her grandparents in the Hamptons. Once her brother became a teenager, he’d opted out of summering in the Hamptons so he could stay closer to home and ride on the farm. Something had happened between him and their grandfather, but Ana had been too young to understand or even care. All she knew was the times she spent in the Hamptons were the best of her life.

  That all changed the summer after she turned twelve.

  She’d arrived the week after school ended and had anticipated another summer of clam bakes and bon fires and runs on the beach. Except those never had happened because Chase had broken her heart.

  The memories flooded her mind, unbidden now, the waves washing them to the forefront. She could see herself ringing the familiar doorbell, and she’d barely contained her eager smile as Chase opened the door while yelling over his shoulder, “I’ve got it, Mom!”

  Ana had marveled at him at that moment. He’d grown so tall since the summer before, almost like his body had been stretched like pizza dough. His hair still was as unkempt as she remembered, but his easy smile was gone, replaced by something a little less open and sure. Still, he’d grinned at her. “Hey, Ana Banana.”

  A foreign feeling had flooded her, something warm settling within her depths, making her feel ecstatic and yet a bit shaky. “You look like you didn’t know I was coming. Didn’t you get my email?” Her parents still hadn’t allowed her to have a cell phone, so she’d resorted to email and Facebook to keep in touch with her friends.

  “What? Oh, yeah. I just forgot that was today.” He’d refused to meet her eyes and she’d started to worry. Why was he acting so funny?

  “I road my bike over. Wanna get an ice cream in town? My mom said I could try paddle surfing as long as I had a partner to go with me.” When he hadn’t answered right away, she’d back peddled. “We don’t have to do it today if you don’t want. I know the water’s still cold. We could do it when it gets hotter.”

  “Yeah, maybe that would be better. Look, this isn’t the best time, Ana. I…” A look of regret. “I’ll email you later when I get a chance and we can set something up, okay?”

  She hadn’t been quite successful hiding the disappointment that had crossed over her face. ‘Yeah, sure. Whatever.”

  She’d turned to leave but paused when she saw the car pulling up the driveway. It stopped and a girl jumped out of the passenger seat. She was slightly older than her, had to be with those perky breasts filling out her bikini top.

  The girl ha
d dark red hair, the type of hair she’d always wanted. Hers was so black and boring, but this girl had that beautiful red hair that had bits of blonde and bright red that glinted in the sun. She’d removed a pair of sunglasses when she reached the porch and kissed Chase on the cheek. “Hey, there,” she’d brightly greeted him before turning to the other girl on the porch. “You must be Ana. Chase told me all about his neighbor’s little grandkid.”

  She was beautiful and had just made her feel like she was four. Ana had forced herself to be polite and managed to mumble a “Hi” before she’d turned on her heel and walked away.

  “You didn’t mention how chubby she was,” the girl had said just within earshot.

  Ana had jumped on her bike and pedaled all the way back to her grandparents’ house.

  “Ana?” The memories fading to the background, she turned to face her brother’s old friend. Eddie approached her and slung an easy arm around her shoulders. “You okay, kiddo? You seem sad.”

  She smiled up at the man in dress blues. She never had to pretend around Eddie. Somehow, he always seemed to know how she was feeling and knew the right thing to say. “I’m happy Lizzy and Will were finally able to make peace with Aunt Catherine,” she answered. “Makes me wonder if I’ll ever find anyone who makes me that happy.”

  “Don’t let your experience with George make you think you can’t be loved.”

  “It’s not that. I just think my judgement is flawed. Everyone knew George was horrible. You and Will basically told me as such, but I let my stupid hormones get in the way.” She didn’t even want to mention that summer she was twelve and the humiliating events that had followed that first meeting with Chase.

  “Everyone makes mistakes. And you were always the type to believe the best in people, even if that person is horrible.”

  Feelings of confusion overwhelmed her as she thought again about Chase. Encountering him at her grandfather’s funeral the previous summer had brought back all those childhood doubts and insecurities. Even worse, just seeing him had brought fresh pain to her already broken heart. She hadn’t realized exactly how deeply he’d hurt her until she’d seen him again.