Double Mocha, Heavy On Your Phone Number

by June Kramin

  “Shouldn’t we do the blood work first before we discuss all of this?” Bix asked.

  “Of course,” he answered Bix, and then directed his attention back to Ellie. “You’ll have to do the standard questionnaire for the transplant people. Initially, we’ll test to make sure the blood type, antigen, and cross match are all good.”

  Bix raised his hand. “Um…three over here.”

  Again, the doctor chuckled. “The cross match with let us know that the recipient cells will react well with the donor cells. Chances don’t get any better than identical twins, but it all has to be done.”

  “Then what?”

  “Then she comes back in after a week for more tests. EKG, chest X-ray, more blood work for anemia, Hepatitis B and C, HIV, kidney function, and some urine tests. Wash a few more down with a complete CT scan and you’ll be good to go.”

  “Who pays for all of this?” Bix asked.

  Ellie hadn’t even considered that part. She could handle losing a few weeks away from work, but she didn’t know if her insurance would cover the procedure.

  “I’ve spoken with Nancy. She’s picking up the cost and doesn’t want your insurance billed for anything. She’s already left a hefty deposit.”

  “I didn’t even tell her I would do it.”

  “She must have known you would, Ellie. I certainly did. I admit to not knowing everything in this town, but I do know a thing or two. I brought you two into this world. You can’t keep much from me. She may be the family black sheep, but I knew you’d do this for her.” He let out a loud breath and took her by the hand. “We sure miss you around here, Ellie.”

  “Do I go to the lab or is someone drawing the blood here?” she asked without responding to the rest of his statement.

  “I’ll be right back with a form. You’ll take it to the lab.”

  “Thanks, Doc.”

  Bix got up and walked over to Ellie. He placed a hand at each side of her and leaned in for a kiss. “You’re a tough cookie. You know that, right?”

  “It’s not a big deal, Bix.”

  “Yes, it is, Ellie. It’s a body part. You may not need it now, but what happens later? What if whatever happened to your sister happens to you and you need that other kidney?”

  “Then you give me one of yours,” she said with a smile, trying to lighten things up. “Didn’t you look things up at all? The remaining kidney tends to compensate for the one lost. It’s not a big deal, Bix.”

  “I got as far as seeing the first successful transplant ever was in identical twins in 1954, and then it was all a blur. I can’t help it. Surgeries make me uncomfortable.”

  The doctor came in and Bix stepped back. “What about afterwards? Is there a donor’s depression or anything?” he asked the doctor.

  “Actually, it’s usually quite the opposite. People don’t usually make this decision lightly and tend to feel good about what they’ve done.” He gave Ellie a yellow piece of paper. “You know the drill.”

  She slid off the table. “Thanks, Doc.”

  “You’ll be hearing from me soon. Your sister’s money is expediting things along.”

  “That’s all right. My mind is made up. If you could admit me now, I’d have you do it tonight.”

  He looked over at Bix. “You’re a lucky man. Keep an eye on this one.”

  “That is my plan.” He extended his hand to the doctor. “Thanks for the info.”

  “I’m sure I’ll be seeing you again soon.”

  Bix sat in the waiting room while Ellie got her blood drawn. He didn’t want to watch that being done and told Ellie as much before he left her side.

  “Call me a pussy, but I just can’t watch it.”

  “Pussy.”

  “Gee, I’m glad I didn’t say to slap me again.”

  “I said I’m sorry.”

  “Shhh. I was just referring to the time I told you to. I’m not holding a grudge, babe.” He stole a quick kiss then sat down and pulled out his phone. “I can entertain myself just fine.”

  “I’ll only be a couple minutes. I’ve been told Stevie Wonder could hit my veins.”

  He laughed as she walked through the door.

  Ellie was back out in ten minutes. He quickly got up and took her hand. He lifted her arm up and gave the bandage a kiss. “Hurt?”

  “Not at all. I didn’t even get a sucker for being good.”

  “How about I take you for some ice cream?”

  “It’s twenty degrees out.”

  “So? Pussy.”

  She playfully smacked his chest. “All right. Then let’s got to the mall. Mama needs a new pair of shoes.”

  “I feel bad for you and all, but I never agreed to shopping as a part of the healing process.”

  “Sucks to be you. Come on, Slick. You know you love it.”

  Chapter Thirty-One

  The smile from the two new pairs of shoes Ellie had purchased faded when she saw the limo at her house. She almost kept driving, but Bix said he had an errand to run before he met her at the house. The thought of him showing up here alone was unbearable. She didn’t put it past her sister to be waiting here with contacts and dyed hair, ready to try again.

  “You like to keep a low profile, don’t you?” Ellie said when she got out of her car.

  “I’m not supposed to be driving in my condition.”

  “That explains the need for a stretch Hummer.”

  “Doc called. Said you went in for the blood work.”

  “You knew I would, Nance.”

  “I wasn’t sure. You were pretty pissed about me and your boyfriend. Sorry, I just couldn’t resist. He’s hot, El. Where’d you find him?”

  “I didn’t. He found me. You’re getting what you wanted. Can you just leave now?”

  “What’s his name? He from around here?”

  “Nanya,” she replied.

  “What the hell is Nanya?”

  “Inside joke.” She left Nancy standing on the deck and unlocked her house and walked in.

  Not being invited, Nancy followed anyway. “Where’s Beau?”

  “Are you kidding me? That dog died our senior year.”

  “Seriously? I don’t remember.”

  “I’m not surprised.”

  “Why is that?” she asked, crossing her arms.

  “You’re not even pretending to be slightly serious, Nance. I swear I can’t tell if you’re more self-centered now or in high school. You didn’t even come to Mom and Dad’s funeral and you’re asking about the fucking dog?”

  “I didn’t think you wanted me here.”

  “So. That has never stopped you before. You have a lot of nerve trying to screw Bix then asking for a kidney.”

  “Bix? What’s that short for?”

  “It isn’t short for anything. Just go away.” Ellie’s cell phone rang. It was Bix calling.

  “I see the limo. Do I keep going to my place?” he asked.

  Ellie walked over to the picture window facing the street. She could see his car at the end of the driveway. “No. Come in. She’s not keeping me out of my house and she’s about to leave anyway,” she said loudly, directing it towards her sister, then hung up.

  “Please leave, Nance. We’re done. You’re getting what you wanted. Now just go.”

  Bix walked in and hurried to Ellie’s side. Nancy let out a sex-driven growl.

  “You’re incorrigible. Leave!” Ellie shouted.

  “Fine.” Nancy waved her hand like there was no reason for Ellie’s tone. “I just wanted you to know you have to go back tomorrow morning for the rest of the tests.”

  “Tomorrow? Doc said it would be a week.”

  “They’re speeding things along for me.”

  Ellie sighed. “He said that, I just didn’t think it could be run that quickly.”

  “Money talks.”

  “Well, money talking or not, I still have my job to think about. I can’t just abandon my boss.”

  “He’s already been called.”

&nbs
p; “What? You had no right to do that!”

  “He’s being compensated well while you’re gone. He was more than happy to take in an intern and get paid for it.”

  “An intern? That’s nuts.”

  “Hey, my lawyers can make anything sound good. He’ll be taken care of and your job will be there when you get back.”

  It was obvious that Bix was uncomfortable and couldn’t contribute anything to the conversation. All he could do was wrap an arm around Ellie and be there for support. Ellie almost wished she told him to keep going so he didn’t have to watch the fight, but she really needed him.

  “What the hell did you do to yourself anyway, Nance?”

  “They called it chronic renal failure and said it was glo-something.”

  “Glomerulonephritis?” Ellie asked.

  “I think so. I don’t know. I don’t have the brain retention for those big words like you do.”

  “What kind of drugs were you doing?”

  “What wasn’t I doing? Come on, killjoy. You never did anything wrong in your entire perfect life, did you? Look where that got you. Your fiancé was killed the day of your wedding. Aren’t you glad you didn’t stay a virgin and wait for your wedding night?”

  “That’s enough!” Bix walked over and grasped Nancy by the arm. He walked her to the door. “Get out and don’t come back without an invitation.” He held the door open and gave her a not too gentle shove over the threshold.

  “See you tomorrow,” Nancy said with a wink then walked to the limo.

  Bix walked over to Ellie, who was sitting on the floor with her head on her knees. “You okay, babe?” he asked, wrapping his arms around her.

  “I’m fine.” Ellie raised her head up. “She hardly shocks me anymore with the crap that comes out of her mouth.”

  “So it was drugs? What happened to her won’t happen to you?”

  “A lot of things could have caused it and no, it won’t happen to me just because we’re twins. If there’s any sign of anything, it’ll show up on the tests.”

  “You know, I promise I’m only going to say this one last time, but are you sure the planet needs that kind of attitude living on it? Are you really doing humanity a favor?”

  “Bitch or not, I can’t knowingly kill my sister, Bix.”

  “You’re not killing her. I just couldn’t bear it if you died only to let her live. I’m sorry if that makes me an awful person.”

  “It doesn’t.” She reached up and held his cheek. She brought him closer for a kiss.

  “It sounds silly since it’s only been such a short time, but I love you with all my heart, Ellie. I don’t want to live without you.”

  “You’re not going to live without me. It’ll be fine.” She placed her head at his chest and saw a bulge in his pocket. “Is there something in your pocket or are you just happy to see me?”

  He laughed then sat down in front of her. He pulled a jewelry box out of his pocket and held it up. Her eyes got wide.

  He held it up and opened it. It was a necklace. A heart shaped ruby surrounded with diamonds.

  “They didn’t have one kidney-shaped so I had to go for the heart shape.”

  “Bix…” She didn’t know what to say around the lump in her throat.

  “I just wanted you to have something to hold on to when I couldn’t be with you.”

  She looked up with tear-filled eyes. “They’ll make me take all my jewelry off when I go in for surgery.”

  “Then I’ll hold it and think of you.”

  She gave him a kiss then wrapped her arms around his neck and let the silent tears fall. They were as much for his gift as they were the stress of the things her sister had said. It wouldn’t be fair to Bix now to cry over Tony, but Nancy’s words still hurt.

  “I changed my mind, Bix. Can we go to your place?”

  “Of course, babe.”

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  Ellie packed clothes to sleep in and clothes for the next day. When she went for her bathroom items, Bix stopped her.

  “I got you everything for my place that hadn’t already made its way there.”

  “You did?” she asked, followed with a big smile. “Assume much?”

  He placed his hands on her hips and pulled her to him. “I like when you sleep over. I just wanted you to have your own brand of shampoo and stuff not the hodgepodge of stuff left here by everyone else. You just need to bring your makeup — not that I think you need any.”

  “Shhh.” She placed a hand on his lips. “Don’t need to dig yourself in a hole. You had me at ‘my own shampoo.’”

  They drove over together in Bix’s car since he insisted on going with her to tomorrow’s appointment as well. Ellie called her boss to explain things better and fill in the gaps Nancy’s lawyer left out while Bix drove.

  Gramps greeted them at the door and smiled when he saw her bag. “I was hoping you’d be back tonight. I put on a pot roast.”

  “Sounds great. I’m glad I showed up again, too, although you’re going to make me fat.”

  “Nonsense. You could use a little meat on your bones, you tiny thing.” Gramps took his coat off a hook. “I’ll be back in an hour. You don’t need to do anything. And no, you can’t. I already set the table.” Apparently he knew what she’d ask next.

  “I’m on clean-up then and if you even try to fight about it, I can take you.” She held up her fists playfully.

  He laughed until he coughed again. This time took even longer for him to stop.

  “You been to a doctor lately? I really don’t like the sound of that.”

  “I don’t like that kid they replaced my doctor with. Seems like I should give him a gold star when he’s done with me.”

  “I don’t care what you like. You need to get that looked at,” Ellie said.

  “Worry about your own body for now then we’ll worry about mine. See you in an hour.”

  “Need help, Gramps?” Bix asked.

  “Nah, just tinkerin’. You two just relax.” He left the house with a final wave and headed to his shop.

  Bix took Ellie by the hips. “I’ve got a great relaxation technique. I think I can finish it in an hour.”

  “If I only get an hour, we’d better get started.” Ellie took off running for the stairs and Bix hurried after her. He was careful to lock the door and hurried down the stairs, taking two at a time. He caught Ellie at the bottom and she squealed. He leaned her against the two-shelf bookcase then picked her up and placed her on it. While he kissed her possessively, his hands roamed to the back of her bra and unclasped it. He then worked on her buttons and gave his hands the access he wanted to her breasts.

  Ellie worked at his jeans until she had them and his boxers lowered, then she pulled him closer to her with her legs. He stopped kissing her and looked into her eyes.

  “Here?”

  “Umm-hmmm,” she said as she pulled him by his shirt so she could continue kissing him.

  He had to pick her up to work off her jeans. Bix lifted Ellie onto the bookcase, with just her discarded jeans for padding. After she pulled him closer again, he didn’t even want to stop for a condom. He thrust into her then dropped his head to her neck. Things were moving too quickly and he needed to slow things down.

  “Babe.” He moaned and continued moving slowly. She felt too good and the wanting was too great. Holding his face with both hands she kissed him deeply, begging for his tongue with hers. He slid his hands down her back and grabbed a hold of her ass and pulled himself deeper into her. She broke apart the kiss and wrapped her hands around his neck, resting her head in his chest.

  Again his head dropped to her neck. “Babe? Do I need to stop?”

  “I’ll kill you.” She took his face in her hands again and kissed him, gently biting his bottom lip.

  “No…do I need — ”

  “No. I’m okay.” She closed her eyes and buried her face into his chest again. She held his back tight as she rocked with him. After a few moments, she let out a soft c
ry and then another.

  Feeling her orgasm sent Bix sinking deeper into her again. He groaned and collapsed against her, placing one hand on the wall, trying to hold himself up. A few loud, hard breaths were all that could escape him for several moments.

  After a few moments, Ellie giggled.

  “What’s so funny?” Bix asked, meeting his lips to hers.

  “What are we going to do for the other fifty minutes?”

  “Recover.” He laughed with her then picked her up and reversed their positions while they were still as one. “That was dirty pool. You sure know how to make a guy feel good about his sexuality, babe. Not to mention it was that much more incredible not having to use a damn condom.”

  She kissed him passionately and wiggled a little, bringing a playful grunt from him. “I wholeheartedly agree there. Did you buy this bookcase because it was the perfect height?”

  “Oddly, I needed a place to store books. What the hell was I thinking?”

  They spent a few more minutes kissing, neither one wanting to break apart.

  “After this is all over, I’ll talk to Doc about the pill,” Ellie said when they finally stopped kissing.

  “Good. You’re due in a few days I take it?” She just nodded. “I’ll be sure to stock up on chocolate.”

  “You know about that, do you?”

  “Worked on my sister, anyway.”

  “Do we have time for a round?” she asked, motioning her head towards the computers.

  “Got you hooked, huh?”

  “I just like kicking your ass.”

  “You think so? Care to wager on that?”

  “What do we bet? Sex?”

  “Is that for the winner or the loser?”

  “Yes.”

  “Bring it on.”

  After getting dressed, they got lost in the game and realized an hour and a half had passed only when they could smell the food upstairs.

  “It smells like it’s burning,” Ellie said. “I’d better go check on it. No cheating while I’m gone!” She was back down in just a couple of minutes. “It’s on the well done side, but saved. You think you should check on Gramps? Maybe he just lost track of time.”