by Sandi Lynn
“I guess that makes sense,” he spoke.
“What do your parents do?” Carter asked.
“John is a doctor who works in the ER and Scott is a firefighter.”
“Nice.” Nora slowly nodded. “I’d love to meet them.”
“They come to the city a lot. Maybe we can have lunch with them one day.”
“I’d like that.” She smiled. “Or maybe we can have them over for dinner.”
“No. I don’t think so,” Carter spoke.
“Why?” Nora asked him.
“Because Zoey is the hired help. We don’t need to have her family over to the house.”
“Wow, Carter.” Nora looked at him in disgust.
Was I surprised he said that? No. It fit his demeanor. I brushed it off and took my plate to the kitchen. When I returned to the dining room, Nora asked if I could help her with a bath. After getting her settled into bed, I walked back out to the dining room to finish cleaning up. As I was loading the dishwasher, I became startled when I turned around and saw Carter standing there staring at me.
“Shit, you scared me!”
“What are you doing?” he asked.
“Cleaning up from dinner.” I gave him an odd look.
“Why? That’s what I have a housekeeper for.”
“You can’t let these dishes sit out all night,” I spoke.
“Whatever, but don’t expect a bonus or anything in your check because you chose to clean up.” He began to walk away.
“Wait!” I yelled.
He stopped and turned to look at me.
“I don’t expect anything extra, especially from you. I’m doing this because it’s the right thing to do. But someone like you wouldn’t know anything about that.” I pointed my finger at him.
He had finally broken me. His attitude towards me and his verbal abuse finally sent me over the edge.
“Are you finished?” His brow arched.
“I have more to say, but for the fear of losing my job, I’ll just keep my mouth shut.”
He cocked his head and folded his arms. God, how I wished he wasn’t so handsome.
“No. Go ahead. Tell me more.”
“Just leave me alone, Mr. Grayson. Please let me finish cleaning up and then I’ll head to my room.” I turned and put the last dish in the dishwasher.
“Fine.” He stormed out of the kitchen.
After wiping down the counters, I retreated to my room, where I called my dad, John.
“Hey, sweetheart, how’s the job going?”
“That man is unbearable!”
A light laugh came from the other end.
“You mean Carter Grayson?”
“Yes. He’s so rude and mean. I try to be nice, but with him, it’s becoming impossible.”
“Just remember why you’re there, Zoey. Don’t let someone like him distract you from what’s really important.”
“I know, Dad.” I sighed.
“What’s going on with you? You never let anyone get to you like this.”
He was right. I always saw the good in everyone and never reacted like this. I knew Carter was hurting and I saw the pain in his eyes every single day, but I still struggled with his behavior.
“Nothing is going on with me. He’s just annoying.”
There was a brief moment of silence on the other end.
“Are you sure you’re not developing some sort of feelings for him?” he asked.
“Dad, he’s a mean and miserable person. How could anyone develop feelings for someone like him?”
“Okay, sweetheart, just checking.”
Just as I ended the call, I heard Carter scream my name from Nora’s room. Throwing down my phone, I ran in there to see what was wrong.
“Shit, she’s having a seizure!” I pushed Carter out of the way so I could help her. “Has she had a seizure before?” I asked.
“No!”
“Call 911.”
As soon as her seizure calmed, I rolled her on her side to keep her airways open.
“You’re going to be okay, Nora. Just try to relax and breathe normal.”
“I’m so tired,” she softly spoke.
“I know. Just relax. An ambulance is on the way to take you to the hospital.”
“No.” She shook her head. “No hospital.”
I reached over and grabbed her hand.
“This is your first seizure. You need to go. It’s not a choice and I’ll be there with you.” I turned and looked at Carter to make sure he was okay. He was as pale as a ghost. “Are you okay?” I asked him.
“I’m fine,” he spoke with a shaky voice.
Not too long after Carter called, the paramedics arrived, put Nora on the stretcher, and transported her to the hospital. I rode with her in the back while Carter had Juan drive him separately. Once we arrived at the ER, they rushed Nora back and told me and Carter to sit in the waiting room. He took a seat in a chair with his elbows rested on his knees and his hands covering his face. I had a feeling we were going to be there for a while, so I grabbed two cups of coffee from the machine in the waiting room and handed one to him.
“Here, I thought you could use this.”
He looked up at the coffee and then at me.
“Thanks.” He took it from my hand.
“I didn’t know how you took it, so I just got black,” I spoke.
“Black is fine.”
Chapter 7
Carter
Seeing Nora like that scared the living shit out of me and I never wanted to see it again.
“Thank you, Zoey,” I spoke.
“For what?”
“For taking care of Nora.”
“It’s my job, Mr. Grayson.”
She was right, it was her job. But I still felt the need to thank her. She sat across from me, and as I stared at her, she wouldn’t even make eye contact. I needed to talk to her because I just couldn’t sit and let my mind overthink the worst. It drove me insane.
“How do you do it?” I asked. “How do you surround yourself with so much pain and death all the time?”
She brought her cup up to her lips and took a sip from it.
“This is what I was born to do,” she simply said with a small smile.
Just as I was about to ask her what she meant, a doctor walked into the waiting room.
“For Nora Grayson?”
We both stood up as the doctor walked over to us.
“Nora is resting now. We did a brain scan and saw a shadow in another area. Seizures are common with this stage of cancer. It was to be expected, to be honest. We’ve started her on fluids and some medication. I want to keep her here for a couple of days just to monitor her and get an MRI. You may go see her but not for too long. She needs her rest.”
“Thank you, doctor,” I spoke.
Zoey and I followed the doctor behind the double doors and down the hallway where Nora was.
“We’re going to be moving her upstairs to room 205 as soon as it’s ready,” the doctor spoke. “Like I said, don’t stay too long.”
I gave him a nod as he walked out of the room. Zoey stood on one side of her bed while I walked around to the other side.
“She looks so peaceful,” I spoke as I stared at my sister.
“The seizure took a toll on her body. She’s resting comfortably now.”
I could hear the sounds of an old woman a couple of curtains down moaning and yelling out. It was constant and it really irritated me. Just when I’d had about enough, a nurse walked in and took Nora’s vitals.
“Can’t you do something about that woman?” I asked the nurse. “It’s very disruptive, not only to family members but also the other patients here.”
“She’s been like that all day. We can’t calm her down and the medication doesn’t seem to be working. We’re waiting for a room to open up on the psychiatric floor so we can transfer her up there.”
“Does she have any family?” Zoey asked.
“Her neighbor brought her in and sai
d that she has no family that she knew of.”
After checking Nora’s vitals, the nurse left and Zoey followed behind.
“Where are you going?” I asked her.
“I’ll be right back.” She smiled.
I was curious as to what she was up to, so I followed her out of the room and down the hall where the old woman lay yelling and moaning. Zoey stood at her bedside and took hold of her hand. The old woman looked at her and instantly quieted down.
“It’s okay. It’s time for you to go home,” Zoey whispered.
The old woman looked at her and then turned her head to the other side and blankly stared at nothing.
“See. They’re waiting for you,” Zoey spoke. “There’s nothing to be afraid of. They’re here to take you home.”
The old woman looked over at Zoey again and brought her hand up to her cheek.
“It’s okay. I promise.” Zoey smiled as she removed the woman’s hand from her cheek and held it.
A gurgling noise erupted from her, and in an instant, she was gone. I stood there and watched as Zoey stared straight ahead with a smile on her face. I furrowed my brows as I looked at her. Swallowing hard, I turned around and went back to Nora’s room. I didn’t know what to make of what I’d just witnessed. Zoey walked back in the room just as Nora opened her eyes. We stayed with her until they transferred her up to room 205 and visiting hours had ended. As we walked out of the hospital and climbed into the car, I looked at her and spoke, “What the hell happened back there with that old woman?”
“She was dying but afraid to let go, so I helped her. It’s what I do, Mr. Grayson.”
I shook my head in confusion.
“I heard you tell her that it was time to go home. Why would you lie to her like that?”
The corners of her mouth curved up into a small smile.
“I didn’t lie to her. She was being called to go home, but she was too afraid.”
“I take it you’re not talking about her home here?” I asked as I narrowed my eye.
“No. She was being called to go home to Heaven.”
“And you really believe that load of shit?”
“It’s not a load of shit, and yes, I do.”
I sat there, staring out the passenger window shaking my head. This woman was insane.
“It is a load of shit. There’s no such place and there certainly is no God. Believe what you want and live in your fucking fairytale world,” I spewed. “But don’t ever talk to me about it.”
Chapter 8
Zoey
I sat there in disbelief of the hatred that had just come from his mouth. My first response should have been to tell him what a mean and horrible person he was. But I didn’t. I kept my mouth shut. He may not have believed in God or Heaven, but he sure did believe in Hell because that was where his soul was held captive. He glanced over at me, waiting for me to respond, but I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction.
Juan pulled up to the curb of Carter’s apartment building and we both climbed out. Following behind him, we stepped onto the elevator and took it up to his penthouse. As soon as the doors opened, he stormed out, went into his office, and slammed the door shut.
I was hungry, so I went into the kitchen and pulled an apple out of the refrigerator. Taking a small bowl down from the cupboard, I set it on the counter and began cutting the apple into thin slices.
“Why?” I asked as I looked up at the ceiling. “Why did you have to put him in my path?”
I sighed as I sliced another piece, but instead of cutting the apple, I cut my finger.
“Shit!” I screamed as I threw down the knife.
Grabbing a napkin that was sitting next to me, I tightly wrapped it around my finger. The stinging, throbbing, and overall pain was a little too much. I took in a long, deep breath.
“What happened?” I heard Carter ask as he stepped into the kitchen.
“I cut my finger. It’s no big deal.”
“It looks like a big deal to me since that napkin is soaked in blood.”
“I said it’s no big deal, Mr. Grayson,” I spoke as I tried to walk past him.
He reached out and lightly grabbed my arm.
“Please sit down so I can take a look at it. You may need stitches.”
“I don’t need stitches. I’m a nurse. I would know if I need stitches.”
“Just sit so I can take a look.”
I sighed as I sat down on the stool at the island. Carter took the seat next to me and carefully unwrapped the napkin from my finger.
“Wow. You really did a number on this. I think you need stitches,” his calm voice spoke.
“All I need is a butterfly bandage. Do you have any?” I asked.
“I don’t know. I’ll have to go check. Don’t move from this spot. I’ll be right back.”
He reached for another napkin and wrapped it around my finger. Something happened when he touched my hand. Something I couldn’t explain. It was like lightning flowed through me. The same lightning I’d only experienced one other time in my life. I stayed seated on the stool and waited for him to come back. A few moments later, he returned with a first aid kit.
“I found this kit in the bathroom. Maybe there’s a butterfly bandage in here,” he spoke as he opened it.
Rummaging through the kit, he pulled out a butterfly bandage.
“Found one.” He held it up. “But first we need to clean the wound out.”
He wrapped his hand around my wrist and led me to the sink. I didn’t say a word. I just let him take control, which he was good at. He unwrapped the napkin and stuck my finger under the slow stream of water. I bit down on my bottom lip at the sharp pain that radiated through me.
“I know it hurts, but we have to clean it,” he spoke.
He pulled a piece of paper towel off the roll, carefully dried my finger, and then wrapped a piece of gauze around it.
“Hold this gauze on it while I open up the packet of ointment and the bandage.”
I did as he asked and watched while he opened the small packet of antibiotic ointment.
“Remove the gauze.”
After finishing up with the ointment, he placed the butterfly bandage around my finger.
“There.” The corners of his mouth slightly, and I mean very slightly, curved upwards.
I nearly fell to the ground because that was the first time I’d ever seen somewhat of a smile cross his lips. I didn’t think he could get any sexier than he already was, but at that moment, his sexy level went up one hundred percent.
“Thank you,” I softly spoke.
“You’re welcome. I know I don’t need to tell you that you should take some Motrin for the pain, right?”
“No, you don’t have to tell me. I know.”
“Good. It’s late. You should get some rest,” he spoke as he placed his hand on my shoulder.
I gave him a small smile and went to my bedroom. His attentiveness was a little overwhelming since he hadn’t shown that side of himself from the day I met him. Maybe there was something or someone beneath all the darkness that enshrouded him.
I awoke around one a.m. and my finger was throbbing, so I climbed out of bed and headed to the kitchen for some more Motrin and a glass of water. As I stumbled down the hall in a sleepy daze, I stopped outside Carter’s office where I heard the same song as the other night play.
Carter
I sat behind my desk and stared at the picture of Angelique while her favorite song played and I sipped my scotch. I tormented myself with this nightly ritual believing that somehow, she’d come back to me. I missed her and I couldn’t let go. I had everything. I had it all. A multi-billion-dollar company, a woman I loved, and a baby on the way. I was going to have my own family. One I could protect and keep safe from the harm and damage of the world. But I failed. I failed with my parents, Angelique, my son, and now with Nora. Even with all the money in the world, I couldn’t save any of them.
When the song ended, I tucked the picture safely aw
ay in my desk and poured another glass of scotch. As I sat there, I thought about Zoey. Not only about her cutting her finger, but about what happened at the hospital. That old woman was a total mess until Zoey walked in and talked to her. She reminded me of—I quickly got the thought out of my head, set my glass down, and walked out of my office.
“Jesus, Zoey. You scared me. What are you doing up?” I asked as I practically ran into her.
“I needed some more Motrin. Why are you still up?”
“I just finished doing some work. I’m heading up to bed now. Sleep well.”
“Thanks. You too.”
As I headed up the stairs, I looked down at my semi-hard cock. Seeing her in that nightshirt put all kinds of ideas in my head. Ideas that shouldn’t have been there. I climbed into bed and exhaustion overtook me. Laying my head on the pillow, I couldn’t stop thinking about the feeling that emerged inside me when I touched Zoey, and it posed a great problem for me.
Chapter 9
Zoey
I climbed out of bed and got dressed before heading to the kitchen for some coffee.
“Good morning, Sadie,” I spoke.
“Good morning, Zoey. What happened to your finger?”
“It’s just a cut. I was slicing an apple last night and missed.”
“It’s more than just a cut. Don’t let her fool you. It looked like a murder scene in here last night.” Carter grinned as he walked in.
Two days, two smiles. It was in my best interest not to get too used to him doing that.
“You two go sit down and I’ll pour you some coffee,” Sadie spoke.
I took a seat at the island next to Carter and he glanced over at me.
“How did you sleep?” he asked.
“Not too bad. How about you?”
“It doesn’t matter. I didn’t ask you so you could ask about me,” he rudely spoke.
And he’s back.
“I’m heading over to the hospital before the office. Are you coming or not?”
“I have a couple things to do before heading over there. I’ll just take a cab,” I replied.
“Suit yourself.” He drank his coffee and got up from the stool. “Have a good day, Sadie. I’ll see you when I get home,” he spoke.