True to his word, the table groaned with every wonderful food imaginable and waiters were quick to fill an empty glass. Aaron's parents lived on Lido Isle, located on the water in the heart of Newport Beach. The entire neighborhood was alive with Christmas lights. Aaron's father was a doctor at Newport Hospital and had known Rick. There were several other doctors and their wives at the party, many of whom Jill knew. Aaron's parents were delightful. They had been married for over forty-five years and were clearly still in love. They were a joy to be around.
What a combination, Jill thought when she met them. Aaron's father was balding, tall, and thin with large horn-rimmed glasses. His mother was short and squat with a fair but freckled complexion, green eyes, and beautiful shoulder-length red hair. It was only fitting that her name was Maureen. I would have bet anything that would be her name, Jill thought, grateful for the warmth they extended to her. It was a wonderful evening and Aaron had been charming and attentive. She was not blind to the numerous kisses and hugs other women felt compelled to bestow on Aaron. She even sensed a bit of jealousy in a few of the women as she was introduced to them by him.
February came and true to her word, Jill had been an integral part of the most successful fundraising event in the history of Newport Hospital. Her silent auction was a huge success. The final amount raised was well over three million dollars. The five-star hotel where the fundraiser was held had done an incredible job of catering to the wealthy with a fabulous meal and tables that gleamed with silver, crystal, and Spode china. Massive floral bouquets had been placed throughout the dining and silent auction rooms. Each dining table floral centerpiece was a smaller version of the large bouquets. The jewels the women wore blazed in the candlelit room.
Bidding was fierce for the donated items. The Rolls Royce topped the list, followed by a one-month stay at an oceanfront compound in Maui and a chalet near Mont Blanc in the Alps. It brought in more money than any past auction. Jill enjoyed soliciting the donations. It was fun and it made her feel she was needed. When she was recognized by Marge and asked to rise to a standing ovation, she felt great. It was good to be acknowledged for something. It was a feeling Jill hadn't experienced in a long time.
Jill and Aaron spent a lot of time together whenever he visited Newport Beach. In mid-May, she made plans for a trip to San Francisco to see her friend Samantha. She mentioned to Aaron that she would be visiting. Of course he wanted to see her and she had to admit that she wanted to see him just as much. After she got off the telephone with him and was getting ready for bed, she looked in the mirror and noticed some grey roots in her hair. She made a mental note to herself to call her hairdresser and make an appointment for a touch up.
That's odd, she thought. I could swear I was in the hair salon just a couple of weeks ago. She went to her computer and pulled up her calendar. Yes, just as I thought, I had my roots done three weeks ago. I've never had to do them that often. I wonder why?
She turned the computer off and went back into the bathroom. Several people had asked her lately if she was feeling okay. She took a long look at herself in the mirror and could see why. She looked tired. There were lines where there never had been lines before. I need to get a facial, she thought. But hadn't she had a facial just a few weeks ago? She went back to the study, turned the computer back on, and once again, pulled up her calendar. It showed that it had only been two weeks since her last facial. She began to seriously wonder what was going on with her physical appearance. She stripped down and stood nude in front of the full-length mirror attached to the back of the bathroom door, taking a long look at herself. There was no mistaking the fact that her skin was beginning to sag and that her breasts, which had always been what people called "pert," had begun to droop. Her stomach, which had always been flat, looked saggy. Jill's skin and particularly her lips felt unusually dry. Something was happening to her body. She decided to see her doctor when she returned from San Francisco.
The next morning it was all she could do to get out of bed. She had an early board meeting with one of her charities, but it didn't interest her. All she wanted to do was sleep. After the meeting, she was scheduled to fly to San Francisco to see Samantha and Aaron. Even that didn't excite her. She got through the next few hours in a fog.
Samantha met her at the San Francisco airport. "Are you feeling alright?" She asked after giving Jill a hug. "You look like you could use some rest."
"I don't know what's wrong with me," Jill said. "I'm just bone tired.”
Samantha took a long look at Jill. "I think you need to have some tests done. You don't look well. Promise me when you get back home you'll go see your doctor."
"I've already scheduled an appointment for Monday morning, but first let's just have a great time this weekend. Aaron's picking me up tonight for dinner, so you'll get a chance to meet him. I'd like your opinion,” "Jill said.
Aaron arrived at Samantha's home promptly at 6:00 p.m. to pick up Jill. Samantha lived in a home the San Franciscans called a "painted lady," homes that were unique to that city. Several streets on steep hills were lined with these narrow, three-story Victorian houses which were painted in a variety of pastel colors. After Samantha's divorce, she had decided to completely redo her home and it was a beautiful combination of old and new. She loved to show it off and willingly gave Aaron a tour.
When Jill and Aaron got in his car to go to the restaurant, he took a long look at her. "Are you all right? You know I'm a doctor. You look like you may have picked up a bug. Have you been to your doctor? I'm worried about you."
She told him that she had made an appointment for the day after she returned. Aaron asked if she'd noticed feeling any differently recently. She told him she didn't have any energy and felt like she was aging a lot faster than she should be. She said she didn't hurt anywhere; that she had just done her monthly self-breast exam and everything seemed to be completely normal, but still she felt like something was "off."
He made her promise to call him after she saw her doctor. The rest of the evening was just as wonderful as every other time she had been with Aaron. She realized she was falling in love with him; something she never thought would happen after Rick, especially this soon. After dinner, it felt natural for them to go to Aaron's home overlooking the San Francisco Bay. She had never thought she would want another man, but she wanted Aaron and knew he felt the same way. He suggested she call Samantha and tell her she would see her tomorrow. Jill hung up the phone as Aaron was turning the lights off. The drapes were open to a spectacular view of the city skyline with the lights on the boats in the bay gently bobbing and swaying below them.
Their bodies fit together as if in a mold, and the lovemaking was easy, yet passionate. For a fleeting moment, Jill wondered what Aaron was thinking of her body, particularly if she was aging prematurely as she suspected, but as passion filled both of them, the analytical part of her brain shut down.
They spent most of the weekend in bed, hungrily exploring each other. Both were passionate, inventive lovers and Samantha's carefully constructed plans for the weekend never materialized. Aaron and Jill wanted nothing more than to be with each other. Sunday night came far too soon. Aaron took Jill by Samantha's home to pick up her suitcase on the way to the airport, kissing her passionately at the curb as they said good-bye to each other. Once again, Aaron made her promise that she would call him after she had seen her doctor.
Jill got on the plane and took a window seat. She loved to look at the ocean as the plane pulled away from San Francisco. She took the airline magazine out of the seatback in front of her and noticed that her hands were trembling. I know I didn't have much sleep, but this is ridiculous, she thought. She didn’t want her seatmate to notice the trembling and put her hands underneath the open magazine. Where is this coming from? She wondered. She willed the trembling to stop. It didn't.
The next day, Jill dressed carefully for her doctor's appointment. It was always a challenge to figure out what type of clothing could be removed easi
ly in the doctor's office without completely ruining hair and makeup when changing into the unflattering gown that was required. She settled on a simple beige skirt and matching silk blouse. They were clothes that were easy to get in and out of.
Dr. Mathis stepped into the exam room. "Jill, what brings you here? I haven't seen you in a long time, but that's good news in this business." He reminded Jill of Santa Claus with his white hair, ruddy face, round belly, and booming laugh. She adored him.
"Dr. M, I don't know what's wrong," Jill said. "I don't have any energy. My skin is really dry and has lost its elasticity. The roots of my hair are greying way too fast and I feel like I'm aging every time I look in the mirror. And my breasts have begun to sag. I know I came to you after Rick died because I was tired, but this is completely different. Plus, I have found a man I think I'm in love with, so if I could just get rid of these physical things, my life would be just about perfect."
"Hmm," Dr. Mathis said, "let's have a look." He gave her a thorough examination. "Jill, I don't find anything that causes me concern. I'm writing a prescription for a number of tests, which may tell us more. My nurse will call and make an appointment for you at the lab in the building next door as soon as I finish. I’ll have the lab expedite the results and I'll call you this afternoon."
"Thanks, Dr. M. I really appreciate it. I don't feel that anything is seriously wrong. I'm just off. I've felt really good these last few months. In fact, I started feeling good after a trip last summer. I pulled off the road and stayed at a little motel in the middle of nowhere. When I got up the next morning, I felt terrific. Maybe it was the desert air, although I have a place in La Quinta so you wouldn't think it would be all that different. Maybe I should go back there."
"Well, let's see what we're dealing with. I'll call you this afternoon. June, who works at the front desk, will have your lab prescription ready for you as soon as I type it into my computer. Don't worry. It's probably just a delayed reaction to all of the stress you've been under after Rick's death. Stress can do strange things to the body. It was really good seeing you and I'm happy that you have a new friend."
After Dr. Mathis left the exam room, Jill dressed quickly. She hadn't told Dr. M about her hands shaking. She had heard that people who were withdrawing from drugs had shaky hands. She loved a couple of glasses of wine, but she wasn't an alcoholic. Still, she thought that was something better kept to herself. Jill picked up her prescription and headed for the lab. After a series of tests, she went home and waited for the call from Dr. Mathis. She wondered if she should have told him how suicidal she had been before she stopped at that little desert motel, but once again, she was afraid he would insist that she see a psychiatrist. Jill filled the time with busy work while waiting for him to call. Plants needed watering, phone calls needed returning, and it was time to start making a list of possible donors for next year’s auction.
The phone rang late that afternoon. "Jill, it's Dr. Mathis. I have the results from the lab tests and I'm pleased to tell you that everything appears to be completely normal. Oh, your cholesterol is a bit high, but after spending a weekend in San Francisco, I'm not surprised. Maybe you should just go back to that desert motel. A little rest away from the hustle and bustle of your busy lifestyle might be good for you. Well, anyway, you're just fine now. If you notice anything else, call me, but I don't see anything that would be a cause for alarm. I'm giving you a clean bill of health and again, I'm really happy for you!"
Jill called Aaron and told him the good news. He was clearly relieved to hear the results of the exam and tests. "Jill, maybe you should go back to the motel in the desert you told me about. I'd be happy to go with you, but it would have to be at least a month from now. My scheduler books my appointments a month in advance."
One of the things Jill loved about Aaron was his lack of ego. He was one of the leading oncologists in the United States. People traveled from all over the world to see him and she knew that his schedule was probably booked a lot longer into the future than a month.
"Thanks, but I'm perfectly capable of driving there myself. Actually, I think I'll go over the Memorial Day weekend. I can drive down to my home in La Quinta. I haven't been there in a while and I should see if everything is okay. Don't worry, I'll be fine." They hung up after making plans for Aaron to fly to Orange County on the coming weekend. Jill would pick him up at John Wayne Airport. They decided not to tell his parents that he would be in town. They didn't want to share each other with anyone.
Jill spent the next few hours looking for the name of the motel. She couldn't find it anywhere. She tried both the Internet as well as telephone information, but since she didn't know the name of the closest town, if there even was one, both of those usually reliable sources of information were of absolutely no help to her. She had paid cash so there was no credit card receipt. She remembered it was something about a color and an animal.
She began to get panicky, hoping against hope that the thoughts of suicide wouldn't come up again. She started a list in her mind of all the things she had to live for. Aaron headed the list. And what was going on with this intermittent shaking of her hands? It had been happening on and off ever since her flight from San Francisco. That was really strange. Her hands seemed like they were developing a life of their own.
That night she awoke suddenly at 3:00 a.m. The words "Blue Coyote" were running through her mind. She sat straight up in bed and thought to herself, That's it. That's the name of the motel. I was right. It's a color and an animal. I'll call in the morning. She wrote the name down so she wouldn't lose it like she often did with dreams that were so clear in the middle of the night, but slipped away like wispy clouds, disappearing in the morning.
"Hello, Blue Coyote Motel. May I help you?" Maria said into the phone.
"Yes. My name is Jill Loren," Jill said. "I stayed at the motel last September. I felt so good when I left, I decided I need to come back to rest and refresh myself. Would you have a room available over the Memorial Day weekend? I'd like to reserve a room for Friday and Saturday nights."
"Yes, I can accommodate you," Maria said. "I have you down and I'll look forward to seeing you a week from Friday. It should be beautiful that weekend. The desert days are quite warm, but the nights are magical." She vaguely remembered Jill as being a rather troubled woman and thought to herself that she probably needed a little Freedom "tune-up."
CHAPTER 31
When Sam was a young man witnessing the abuse of his mother at the hands of the man to whom she was married, living on the edge of poverty, watching his fellow tribe members struggle with addiction and social illnesses, he would have never been able to predict his present life.
After observing the poor choice his mother had made, he was taking his budding relationship with Phyllis Chee very slowly and carefully. They thoroughly enjoyed each other's company and looked forward to the time they spent together. Their burgeoning romance had not escaped the watchful eyes of the nattering old women of the tribe and a lot of idle gossip centered around the two of them and their future. For their part, they were happy to just let everything gradually unfold.
Sam knew he was making an important contribution to his tribe. The overall health of the tribal children was flourishing under his medical care and supervision. Likewise, the new school built on the reservation was a vast improvement for their educational opportunities. A committee had been set up for oversight of the school, a committee on which he willingly served. Although the tribe was a sovereign nation, the school fell under state mandates.
The committee had the option to standardize the teaching to the state requirements or opt to set higher standards for the students and their teachers. They chose the higher standards and the results proved that they had made the right decision. The children were testing far higher than their peers in other parts of the state. It had been a controversial, difficult choice, but it was paying off, not only for the respect the school was garnering throughout the state, but in the children's
education. For the first time that Sam could ever remember, the children's eyes shined with hope for the future. Many of them spoke of getting college educations. Parents were attending back-to-school nights and meetings with the teachers. In the past, such meetings had been poorly attended, if at all.
The pediatric center was thriving too. The children's parents were becoming increasingly interested in a better lifestyle for themselves and their children. Sam added a dietician to the staff to educate them about the benefits of eating healthy and avoiding junk food. He made use of two nurse practitioners, a male and a female, who had returned to the reservation after their schooling was completed. They knew the tribal families and their needs, both modern and traditional. He found he had a little more free time for himself because of the nurse practitioners. On the weekends, they were the ones on call at the center. As nurse practitioners working under him, they could dispense medicine and make limited medical decisions. This extra time on the weekends allowed Sam to finally be able to spend some time on his other passion, horses.
Almost every family on the reservation had at least one horse. They were like pets and many a young man had proven his manhood by breaking a wild horse. Most of the tribal members knew about, but few spoke of Strong Medicine's gift of being able to sing to wild horses. Only a very few privileged people had accompanied him into the hills where he sang the ancient songs, calling the wild horses to him. Strong Medicine had more horses than anyone on the reservation.
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