A Reason To Stay (23 page)

She called Darren before picking up her bags to leave the house. “Hey, are you doing all right?”

“Sure, being trapped in bed with a legitimate reason not to work, yet not having you beside me is a real picnic. Of course, then you have a leg encased in plaster and no way of scratching it. When are you coming back?”

An anxiety attack bubbled up inside her, brought on by a guy on the other end of the phone whining to have her there. Why had God forgotten to give her wings? At least then, people could see she was meant for flying. Certainly not for staying grounded.

“Elise? Are you there?”

“Sure.” The sound of her name brought her around. “Are you hungry? I could stop somewhere and bring you something to eat.”

“Okay, sure. How about a grilled chicken salad from Panera? Does that sound good to you?”

“That sounds great.” Her auto pilot tone answered without changing pitch. “I’ll be there in a few minutes.”

They decided to have lunch in the living room. The more she helped haul him from one place to the other, the easier it became. Well, almost easier. Darren laughed as she almost lost hold of him, trying to lower him to the sofa.

“I’m going to see about getting this thing shaved down. It’s ridiculous how cumbersome it is.”

“Darren, I’m sure it’s the size it is for a good reason.” She stepped back and used her forearm to wipe away a bead of sweat that had formed along her hairline.

He looked at the bags sitting on the floor beside the front door. A smile lit his face. Elise handed him his salad and utensils, then sat on the chair next to him. She picked at her food and turned on the television to break the silence that was too loud in her ears. When the big hand on her watch moved ten spaces she stood up.

“I’m going to get rid of this trash and hang up my suit for tomorrow. Can I bring you anything else?”

“Just you,” he said, reaching for her.

She knelt down on the floor beside him, conceding that he knew nothing of the changed circumstances in her life. Trying to keep her telltale eyes in check, she looked at the little space in between his eyes. Getting too close to the edge of his intent gaze meant she might fall deep inside.

He rubbed her back and kissed the top of her head. “Is something bothering you, honey?”

“I’m just not looking forward to all I missed at work, I guess.”

“Are you sure that’s it? I know it’s a lot on you to take care of me.” He didn’t seem convinced work was her only problem.

“No, really, it’s work. You know how difficult it is to leave and come back to a million problems.” She rose up. Part of her explanation was true, at least.

“Yeah, I’m not looking forward to my return after five weeks. I’m sure I’ll be double booked with all the appointments that are being canceled, as we speak.”

Five weeks?! She had been told, even read it on the paperwork and reiterated it to someone else, but five weeks? Well, that was it. Five weeks to either move forward, stop, or move away. If she remembered, she’d pray extra hard for the answer that night in her prayers. Along with a prayer to stop being so indecisive about her love life. Pick a guy, for goodness’ sake. Either the one with forever in his eyes or the other one with forever in
his
eyes. Well, possibly the second guy had already extinguished that look by now. And what about
her
? Who was the face of her forever?

“I’m going to get those things done. Maybe we can watch that movie later.” She kissed him just west of the lips. She knew she’d never make it off the sofa if lip contact actually took place.

~*~

That night Elise came out of the bathroom in a nightshirt she brought from home. Non-silk and non-problematic for Darren. But fabric choice surely wouldn’t deter his efforts to bring her closer in bed. She scooted closer and laid on his chest, rubbing it in a circular pattern. Shouts of horrible name calling, from her conscience, rang inside her ears. Their pre-mating dance was interrupted by Darren’s phone ringing. God did answer prayers.

“You better get it, Darren.”

He brought Elise’s head up level with his and began kissing her lips. His hand tugged at her nightshirt, and he tried his best to pull it over her head. The phone continued ringing. Elise reached over him. took it off the bed stand and handed it to him.

“Mood killer.” He took it and pressed it on. “Hello.” His tone was short and unwelcoming.

“Mother? Of course, I’m all right. I just broke my leg and banged my head a little. No, it’s nothing you need to break your trip for. I’m fine. Yes, Elise is here and she’s taking the best care of me.” He smiled in between paused conversation and pulled more at her nightshirt. “Okay, I have to call you back tomorrow. I’m in the middle of something right now.”

He clicked the phone off and threw it to the foot of the bed, kicking at it until it jumped the edge and landed on the floor. He managed to turn semi on his side and ravish Elise with a passionate kiss, all the while slipping off her nightshirt. Before she could refuse, she became seduced by his fervent body language. His strong hands, and determination to make love to her, no matter what handicap he was given, made her putty in his hands.

It was amazing how much he was able to do half stationary from the unwanted bed guest they would have for the next five weeks. And it made for a little trickier positions from Elise. After it was over and he had fallen asleep, she slipped on her shirt and crept to her side of the bed. Morning couldn’t come fast enough for her wounded conscience and alert mind.

Guilty thoughts needled her like ice picks in her every pore. How could she do this? How could she sleep with Ben and then come home and sleep with Darren? Who was this girl? She wore an indention on her bottom lip while pressing these questions through her mind. Was it possible to love two men at the same time?

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

The Moment

Janine was never a so-welcomed face the next day. Even the tight bun in her hair gave Elise a much-needed grin. The office hummed with busy people. Everyone was there to work. Something Elise needed to do to keep her mind busy from the patient she left at home and the lover she left in Kentucky. She just hoped the nurse was going to make it to Darren’s for the day. He made her leave without seeing that the lady was actually going to show up to help him.

“Janine, I didn’t get a chance to pick up anything for you in Kentucky. I had to leave in kind of a hurry.”

“That’s all right, Miss Newton. How is Dr. Masterson? If you don’t mind me asking.”

“He is home, in a cast, and finding it difficult to be the patient. But he will be fine.”

“That’s good. I put your messages on your desk and I’ll go and get your coffee now.”

“Sounds like heaven.”

Elise opened her office door and breathed in the smell of office supplies, commercial carpet, and radiation from her computer screen. It was great to be home. This was the place where she knew exactly what to do. No questions here except what code unlocked the variable needed to get the screen to look exactly like she wanted.

The day went by without a hitch. She called to check on Darren a few times. The nurse still hadn’t arrived at ten o’clock, but when she called at twelve, he was unable to talk for long. He was just sitting down for lunch. She was relieved the lady had finally arrived. Now, the third meal was all she was responsible for.

Dinner at the Mexican Cantina was waiting when Elise darted inside to pick it up. She was running late and hadn’t called to let Darren know, yet. She figured he’d be starving and she didn’t want to have to make up excuses until she got back to his place with dinner in her hand.

When she arrived, she noticed an unfamiliar car in the driveway. Maybe the nurse was still there. And she was driving a convertible Audi? What were they paying these homecare angels lately? She grabbed her attaché case and bag of dinner from the front passenger seat. The smell had kept her salivating the entire way to his house. She managed to skip lunch with her backlog of work.

The front door was left unlocked as she tried her key. Voices were loud coming from the atrium area. She set the bags down and walked to where they were coming from.

To her surprise it was Stacy Chadwick, still reigning model of County General Hospital. And beside her was a woman she had no clue as to her identity.

Darren looked up and stopped laughing. “Honey, this is my mom, Jane Masterson.”

Where was the lemon juice and razor blades when you needed them? Oh, yes, they were right there. Sitting beside her boyfriend. One on each side of him. Lemon juice smiled a coy smile at her and razor blades stood up to shake her hand.

“And you must be Elise.”

Elise took her hand. It was of the utmost moisturized and felt like a pillow as it gently squeezed hers. Wax lately or just every other hour?

“Yes, I must be. It’s nice to meet you, Mrs. Masterson.”

“Call me Jane.” She sat down and patted Darren on the shoulder. “I’ve been so worried about my boy. I had to catch the next flight out of Tuscany and come home for him.”

“Mom,” Darren said. A teenage ghost of him cowered under her wing.

“Where were you today, dear?” Something evil lurked from behind her innocent question. Perhaps an accusation. After all, Jane Masterson knew the answer to the question. She just had to ask to make sure that Elise felt bad about it.

“I was at work. Did I miss your nurse, Darren? Did she already leave?”

Stacy raised her hand. “I’m still here.”

“What?” Did Elise miss something else? Was Stacy moonlighting as a man stealer on work hours
and
time off?

“There was a glitch in the hospital’s itinerary today, so I volunteered to come take care of him.”

“I could have killed her. She has patients. I could have taken care of myself,” Darren said.

His mother intervened. “Honey, you can’t even get up from the bed without help. I’m glad Stacy had the common courtesy to take off work to help you.”

Bam
! In Elise’s poor-excuse-for-a-girlfriend face. After all, computer programming was so much more important than saving lives. Was there an emergency hatch door to release? Some kind of hole in the ground that would open up and graciously take her out of the snake pit of Nurse Covergirl and Mommy Dearest?

“Mom, it’s all good now. I’m fine. You didn’t even have to come. I told you that on the phone last night. And you certainly didn’t have to leave Italy.”

Elise stepped back inconspicuously toward the large opening toward the living room.

Stacy stood up. “Well, Darren, I have to go. I told the hospital I’d be in to do final rounds.” She extended her hand to Jane. “It was nice to meet you, Jane. I hope I get to see you before you return home.”

“It was my pleasure, dear. And thank you for taking care of my son today.”

Elise took the hint and walked to get the bag of dinner. She was starving and the more she stayed in the company of these ladies the more her appetite was wavering on nausea.

Stacy passed her going to the front door. “I’ll see you later, Elise.”

“Yeah, see ya later,” she said, muttering something after that.

Darren came into the living room. His mother, by his side, helping him on his crutches. He hopped to Elise and stood beside her, waiting for her to stop pulling to-go cartons from the paper bag. She turned to him, giving a look that she hoped he could read loud and clear.

“I missed you today.”

Elise looked at his mother, who lingered around them like pollution. “I missed you, too. I’m sorry about the nurse mix-up. But it looks like you were well taken care of.”

Jealousy nibbled at her. Not as much as before her time with Ben, though. How could such a venomous emotion mix with a guilty one? He was probably ignorant of Stacy’s obvious infatuation, anyway.

“I didn’t know Stacy was going to come.” He knew the look she had given.

“Thank goodness she did. I can’t believe you were here alone today.” Jane joined in the conversation.

Oh, the joys of mothers of guys you dated. You either got lucky and they minded their own business, or you got Jane Masterson. And to think she had the good fortune to avoid her for the past year. What a blessing.

“Mom, I’m not an invalid. I could have managed. It’s not like Elise never came back.”

“I’ll help you to the couch. I got you your favorite dish from the Cantina.”

Elise looked at the unwelcome guest who was winning points from the icy stares she was freezing her with. “I’m sorry, I didn’t know you were here. Would you like to eat my entree? It’s two soft shelled tacos with everything.”

“Heavens no!” she said, over the top. “Do you ever cook anything? I opened the trashcan and saw nothing but takeaway packages. Are there any groceries in this house?”

“Mom, we have careers. It’s hard to cook a meal after working a nine- to twelve-hour day. Now, say what you want to eat, and I can call for delivery.”

“I’m fine. I ate on the plane. I’ll wait to eat breakfast tomorrow morning. That is if you have anything. If not, I’ll just call a car to take me to the nearest place that serves crepes and fresh fruit.”

Elise guarded Darren as he made his way to the sofa. She took his crutches and lowered him on the sofa, tucking a few pillows underneath him. She continued helping, by preparing his plate of take-out misery, according to Jane Masterson. Yeah, sure she looked full from the plane food. Drool was pooling at the sides of her puckered lips, as Elise transferred the fajita to the plate for Darren.

“Honey, I’m going to retire for the night. I’m tired from the flight. I’ll see you in the morning.” She kissed the top of his head and looked at Elise. “I don’t know if you leave before I wake up or not. But goodnight, Elise. I’ll see you when I see you.”

Microscopic daggers flashed in Jane’s eyes. Elise was certain she had seen her somewhere before. Yes, that was it! It was on the Discovery Channel. The episode titled, “How Mothers Hover over their Grown Men Sons and Devour their Potential Mates.” She was sure it was not going to be a happy time with her staying in the same house.

“Don’t say it.” Darren seemed to know what was on Elise’s mind as she picked at the cheese and beef combination on her plate. “I didn’t know she was coming, I promise. And I’ll see that she leaves just as soon as she’s convinced I’m all right.” He kept his voice low, just in case she rode her broomstick out to the living room, again.

“That will be when I quit my job to stay with you for twenty-four-hour shifts. Is she
that
old-fashioned?”

“I’m afraid so. She is in charge of a staff at home that waits on Dad left and right.”

“It’s nice to know she’s a good delegator. I’d hate for her to break a sweat and do something for him herself.” She stopped prematurely at what she really wanted to say about his mother. Knowing that was the woman she would have to look at during the next years of her life was a major game changer for Elise. The list for cons about her relationship with Darren were beginning to stack up. Jane Masterson counted for, at least, a hundred of them.

They finished their meal with the unsavory taste of the new house guest just steps away. Elise cleaned up the dishes and retired to the bedroom for her shower. Darren finished watching a movie before she came out to take him back to the room.

“I wouldn’t mind taking another shower, if you’re up to it,” he said to her.

She adjusted her robe and went to close the door to the room. Darren balanced on one leg as he took his shirt off. Elise pulled his shorts off and helped him to the shower. He sensuously kissed her as they waited for the water to get warm.

“Any chance we could—”

“None.” She cut him off before the image could make it to his mind. There was no way anything was going down with his mother under the same roof. Maybe even while she was on the same continent. Elise felt some guilt over last night’s session with him. And it wasn’t just the acrobatics she had to perform, either. Ben’s face tried to squeeze into every open moment she had at work that day. Their time together was obviously not as finished as she figured it to be.

Darren finished his shower and was settled in bed. A glass of tea was calling Elise’s name from the refrigerator. The salty tacos had managed to strip her mouth dry. She slipped on her robe and walked to the door to leave.

“I’ll be right back. I’m thirsty. Can I bring you something?”

“No, I’m fine. The less I drink, the less I have to get up and go to the bathroom.” Darren tried to situate himself. That cast was getting in everyone’s way.

Elise turned on the kitchen light and went to get out her tea. She stopped short when she heard Jane run into the barstool.

“Damn stool. Who puts a stool in the middle of the floor, anyway?” She bent over, holding her bruised toe. Elise noted the red robe she was wearing. Didn’t the devil wear red, too?

“Hello. I was just getting something to drink. Would you like anything?”

“It depends. Is there any bottled spring water in there? I’ll drink domestic if he has nothing else.”

Elise wasn’t sure the woman could be nice even if she tried. Maybe she missed the entire two years in her childhood it took to fully develop tact.

“Sure.” She grabbed a bottle of plain distilled water and handed it to her.

“Sit down with me. I’d like to talk a moment.” The ill-mannered woman hopped on a stool and patted the one beside her.

The very last thing, next to root canals and eye splinters, that Elise wanted to do in life. She forced a tiny smile and took a seat next to the human vulture.

“So, I understand you’ve been dating Darren for a year?”

“Almost. I think it’s more like nine months.” And eight days, four hours, and twenty-three minutes. But who’s counting? Elise gulped her tea.

Jane’s smile dropped back to a solid stare without any fangs showing. “Well, are you living here with him? He never tells me anything anymore.”

Elise wondered why. The woman was the portrait of all things maternal and disturbing. Maybe she would get along famously with Lyla Newton. They could stand over the cauldron together and conjure up spells to make Elise spontaneously feel fork prongs in her torso.

“I’m not living here. I’m just staying with him to help him until he gets better.”

Relief softened the woman’s starched lips. “That’s good. I don’t believe in co-habitation. Are you looking for him to ask you to marry him? Is that something you want?”

Beating around what bush? Were there no bushes in this lady’s yard? Forward, direct, and right through to Elise’s hyperventilating heart.

“I’m not ready to get married.”

“What? How old are you, anyway? Isn’t that what every girl wants? Find a handsome young doctor, get married, and have children? What’s wrong with you? Surely he’s a catch on so many levels.”

All right, polite and polished gloves off. This woman was going to be taught a lesson in how to behave like a human being.

“There is nothing wrong with me, Mrs. Masterson. I don’t particularly subscribe to the notion of marriage. And I’m certainly not ready for any children.”

They both stopped as they saw a large shadow on the wall behind the kitchen partition.  Darren had managed to make it out to the kitchen by himself.

“Mother, what are you doing to Elise?”

“I’m not
doing
anything to her. I’m simply asking of her intentions to my only son.” Defense shield up. Mama bear mode engaged.

“I think you’re finished. I don’t need any help in communicating with my girlfriend. And when there’s any noteworthy news, I will call and tell you. Until then, stop with the interrogation.”