I Love You to Pieces

by Lori Flynn

  “Shouldn’t you be wearing a hard hat to protect that superior brain of yours?” Ben leaned in close, so she could hear him over the construction noise.

  “Don’t I wish? They won’t let me within six feet of anything that requires tools or a hard hat. What brings you here today, Counselor?”

  Ben paused, looking around at the flurry of activity going on in every corner as far as he could see. He returned his eyes to Olivia’s.

  “I’m offering my services for your walk-a-thon,” he said. “I’ve cleared my schedule.”

  Olivia grinned, suppressing a giggle. “If you’re serious, I have the perfect job for you.”

  “For some reason, I’m a little afraid right now. Can you tell me about it without feeling the need to laugh?”

  She held up her hand and feigned a sober expression. “I give my solemn promise I won’t ask you to do anything illegal or immoral.”

  “I noticed you didn’t say embarrassing.” As if discarding all thought of consequence, he drew her close and kissed her. “I have to get back,” he said and turned toward the parking lot.

  Olivia considered his slow, drugging kiss until the sound of a bell brought her back.

  “You’re a hard one to find today,” Gretchen said breathlessly. “I won’t need to exercise for the rest of the week. And now that I’ve found you, I can’t remember what was so damned important. Let me think a minute…code enforcement, that’s it. It sucks to get old. They’ve approved the work completed so far and didn’t see a problem with anything you have started. I thought you’d enjoy hearing that. Of course, you probably have their rules and regulations committed to memory and already know that.”

  “Unless they’ve added some new ones,” Olivia forced a smile. She’d noticed Gretchen remained winded. “Why don’t you wait with me for a minute and I’ll call for a golf cart. That way, you can ride back.”

  Gretchen drew a few short breaths. “I appreciate your concern, but my stubbornness has kept me going this long. If I can’t take a simple walk, I may as well hang up my designer sneakers now.”

  “At least let me walk back with you. I haven’t seen my office all day, and I’m waiting for some sizeable donations.” Olivia clasped Gretchen’s arm. Together, they made their way toward the main building.

  *

  Olivia fidgeted. The blue chair in the poorly ventilated, crowded waiting room felt more like a bench and irritated her back. What was I thinking? I don’t have time to wait like this, not so close to the event. I’m not even sure whether the birth control pills he prescribed to regulate my hormones helped with my migraines. But would they be worse if I stopped? She pictured the mountain of work piled on her desk that required her attention and sighed. I’ll just reschedule.

  The door opened with a loud whoosh.

  “Olivia Harding?” a young nurse with honey tousled hair, dressed in pink scrubs, called.

  She followed the woman back to an examination room. After recording her weight and vital signs, the nurse handed her a plastic cup for a specimen and pointed out the paper gown she placed on the exam table.

  “Before you get started, you should know your doctor was called away. It seems our Mrs. Reilly is finally ready to have that baby after three false alarms. You can reschedule if you’d like, but you’ll need to see a doctor before we can refill your birth control pills. Dr. Hays is available. He’s another gynecologist in this practice. This way you won’t have to come back and wait again.”

  Olivia swallowed around the rock in her throat. The only thing worse than seeing a doctor was seeing a new one! She lacked the time and energy to restart the process. Closing her eyes, she nodded.

  Alone, she undressed, filled the cup, and pushed into the pale-yellow gown, opening in the front. After sprinting to the exam table, she perched on the end and counted to slow her breathing. Just then, the doctor entered, trailed closely by the pink-scrubbed nurse.

  Dr. Randolph Hays, a robust man as wide as he was tall, had a generous expanse of unruly chestnut curly hair that sprang aimlessly from the top of his head. He wore wire-rimmed glasses and a long-starched lab coat that swished back and forth as he walked. He reminded Olivia of a toy Nanny had given her when she was a child called a Weeble, only on a much larger scale.

  After a quick introduction, he began. The nurse settled behind the computer, her legs crossed, swinging her foot as she typed. She felt his icy fingers as he probed. He rambled unfalteringly during the examination. Not quite listening, or even sure if he was speaking to her, she perked up when his lecture posed the question of birth control pills. She simply nodded.

  “That’s what I thought.” Dr. Hays pressed his thin lips. “So, when was it that you had the intrauterine device inserted? I can tell it’s relatively new, but there’s no mention of it in your patient notes. I can assure you, you shouldn’t need both for protection. Would you like me to remove it?”

  Struck still, Olivia stared at the elegant quality of the coffered ceiling above her head. She gulped down quick breaths, picturing herself rolling from the table and making a mad dash for her car. A half-naked woman running in a crumpled paper gown would surely make a scene. She concentrated on keeping her composure long enough for Dr. Hays to waddle from the room, taking his leg-swinging nurse with him.

  Olivia bit her lip until it throbbed. “Senior year in college, to answer your question, and the pills are merely an experiment to see if they help my migraines. I don’t know how long I’ll stay on them. Just leave the IUD.” Completing the lie, she fought back the tears.

  Scrubbing his hands at the sink, Dr. Hays addressed her again. “There’s one more thing, Ms. Harding. The Quick-Strip we did on your urinalysis isn’t as clear as we’d like to see. Lay off the alcohol for a while; drink plenty of water. That should do the trick.”

  Olivia shook her head. “I have an occasional glass of wine with dinner. That hardly seems enough to affect my urinary tract.”

  Dr. Hays whistled a laugh through his nose. “And I tell my doctor I work out at the gym three times a week.”

  With his exit, she bound from the table, padding barefoot over the cold tile floor. Dressing as quickly as her shaking hands would permit, she began the mental process of tucking this new, unexplainable episode into the dark corner of her mind with the others.

  “Can we set your next appointment, Olivia?” asked the cheerful woman at the front desk after the bill was settled.

  “I’ll have to check my schedule and get back with you,” Olivia returned quickly. She wouldn’t be back, regardless of her schedule.

  From her car, hot tears rolled down her cheeks. Perhaps she could explain away a less-than-perfect urinalysis with factors other than alcohol consumption. The IUD was another story entirely. She had a foreign object in her body and possessed no memory of how, when, or why it was there. Deep sobs shook her, as shattering fear about her sanity took hold.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Olivia

  Olivia’s fast approaching Walk-for-Love-a-Thon kept her buried in work and occupied her every thought. Venue preparation progressed as planned, needing only minor adjustments in booth placements for better crowd flow. The expected pre-event donations arrived as well as an encouraging host of others. She smiled when receiving a generous check from her grandmother. The note attached read: For my great-granddaughter Lily; I’m with you in spirit.

  In the early morning hours of the event day, Olivia looked on, holding Lily in her arms, while the volunteers and faithful employees of Paws for Love enjoyed their catered breakfast. While the close-knit group awaited their last-minute instructions, she spotted Ben, sporting his event T-shirt, mingling with the crowd.

  “Can I have your attention for a few words?” Olivia’s clear raised voice called. With a deep breath from the front of the now still room, she began. “Our love for animals brought us together. Today is for them. I know how hard you’ve worked, how many hours you’ve put in. Both the animals and I thank you. The only thing I ask is
to go out there and have fun.”

  After emphatic applause, the group dispersed to their assigned positions. Olivia stayed behind, acknowledging a concern from the grounds crew, and then turned to find Ben, his arms crossed over his chest. He smiled at her. The sudden urge to run into his arms, bury her head in his chest, and tell him her long list of tightly kept secrets—leading up to and including the debacle in the doctor’s office—almost overpowered her. I can’t lose control. Not now. Not today. She returned his smile.

  “I found your speech inspirational,” Ben said. “I’m tempted to adopt something myself, or at the very least, donate. It sounds as if I’m kissing up so you’ll take pity on me today, but I’m not. I am sincere.”

  A wide smile crossed Olivia’s face as she linked her arm through his, guiding him from the building. “It’s funny you should use the word kiss since that happens to be the theme of your job today.”

  Ben took a quick breath. “Should I be intrigued or scared?”

  “Just relax,” she laughed as they walked, arm in arm, past various booths and tents, each more picturesque and inviting than the next. When they reached Ben’s booth, Olivia gave him time to comprehend and react. Decorated in bright red paint with the words ‘KISSING BOOTH’ written in block letters across the top, it didn’t take the Harvard graduate long to figure it out.

  His eyes flared like sparklers on the Fourth of July. “Olivia, you want me to… It won’t bother you if… Most of these ladies will be my grandmother’s age… Gretchen was kidding. It’s flu season! I could die!” Ben stuttered and stammered in his attempt to complete a sentence so that maybe Olivia would change her mind.

  Olivia suppressed a giggle while lacing her hands through his. She stood on the tips of her toes and kissed him. With a reassuring smile, she turned her head and gave a thumbs-up signal.

  “My Spidey sense is telling me to run,” Ben said.

  “Promise you’ll listen before you panic. I realize that when Gretchen mentioned a kissing booth, she was only kidding. Then I thought it might work. Keep listening, Ben,” Olivia sighed when he rolled his eyes and pulled his hands from hers, placing them on his hips.

  She moved in close, leaving him no room to negotiate, and softened her tone. “Our patrons’ demographics are well documented, and of course I don’t want you to get sick or die. Most importantly, do you honestly believe I would arrange for women to kiss you all day—no matter their ages? Come on, Ben. Give me a little credit. I hired you a partner.”

  “And you didn’t think to mention any of this?” he said, raising his hands in the air.

  Olivia greeted the Paws for Love golf cart that had pulled alongside them. Driven by a staff member, a sandy brown English bulldog occupied the passenger seat. He had an overly pronounced under-bite, making it appear as if he was smiling, that added to his charm. Olivia gently lifted the dog and placed him in the shaded spot built for him inside the booth.

  “This is Edgar. He’s well behaved and born with a special talent. I’ll demonstrate.” Failing miserably to remain serious, Olivia laughed. She locked eyes with Edgar and in a soft voice, gave the command. “May I have a kiss?”

  Edgar planted a wet kiss on Olivia’s cheek. The dog then licked his lips before arranging himself into a more comfortable position in the booth. Ben, looking more disgusted than amazed at what he had witnessed, managed a slow grin.

  “You don’t notice the slobber after a while,” she said. “There’s a schedule on the wall for feeding, and someone will come by for his walks. As much as he loves sitting and kissing all day, it’s not good for him.”

  “No, but it’s very good for me; on a day when you have more time, of course.” Ben cupped her chin. She felt his eyes search her upturned face. She watched him reading her, noticing the shadows that cautioned of more than the normal overwork and lack of sleep that came with heading an event. For the briefest of moments, it seemed as though the time had come to confess until beads of sweat rolled down her back, thinking of the repercussions. Even if she knew how to start, she assumed Ben would end it. Shame and fear won out. With a wave, she was gone.

  “All right, Edgar,” Ben said, giving the dog a rub. “I’ll give you some pointers on how to rake in the big bucks.”

  *

  The sun darted in and out of a sky thick with clouds, which offered a welcomed breeze. Photographers captured souvenir photos of patrons with their pets. And as Olivia suspected, the refreshment stations remained popular.

  Olivia and Lily stood beside Gretchen, observing the crowd. The greater part was attired in event T-shirts and accompanied by pets sporting matching bandanas.

  “It looks like they’re enjoying themselves. Don’t you think? They’re buying treats and products and picking up the free toys and pet food from the distributors.”

  “I think you’ve outdone yourself once again, Olivia,” Gretchen said. “Norman Rockwell would be hard-pressed to portray a happier picture. And that’s my favorite idea of yours yet.” She pointed to the line-up of her K9 guests wearing shirts that read: ‘Adopt me now & I will love you forever.’

  “I can’t take all the credit. I had plenty of help. But thanks for the vote of confidence. Right now, Lily and I have a walk to get started.”

  As she made her way down the path, Olivia heard the scheduled announcement over the public-address system. The walk was about to begin. A rush of enthusiasm filled the air as the crowd filled in around them, seeming to put a spring in Lily’s step. By the time they reached the starting line, marked by a blue satin ribbon, a large group had waited, leashes in hand, eager to begin.

  Olivia approached the small podium and lifted the microphone. “Before I release the hounds,” she paused for the laugh her small joke extracted, “I’d like to thank everyone who worked so tirelessly on our first annual Walk-for-Love-a-Thon. Now, I’m going to ask our official mascot, Lily, to help me cut the ribbon so we can get started.”

  She picked up Lily; her pink cast bedazzled with crystals by one of the young artists, and with an oversized pair of scissors, she cut the ribbon. After a round of applause for the beagle’s role in the ceremony, the walkers headed down the designated path.

  Olivia found the mile-long walk delightful, chatting with other walkers about dog training tips and animal sunscreens. Some showed off items they’d purchased from vendors. Mostly, they shared what they liked.

  “I’m glad you added the watering areas along the route,” said an older man with a short beard covering his heart-shaped face. “My chow has such a thick coat and gets easily overheated.”

  There was one experience the crowd couldn’t wait to tell her about.

  “I had to pull myself away from that kissing booth,” said a woman holding the leash of a Great Dane, while its sizeable nose sniffed Lily. “I don’t know who was more adorable, Ben or Edgar.”

  “I heard Ben say he’d taught Edgar everything he knew,” said a grandmother carrying a white poodle. “They had me laughing so hard, I had to switch oxygen tanks.”

  Olivia smiled and nodded. She’d pay the adorable Ben and Edgar a visit as soon as time allowed.

  They continued along the path, while sable palms swayed to tropical breezes and the sun hopscotched behind puffs of clouds that looked like fluffy layers of cauliflower. For Lily, it was naptime. After an extended yawn, she stretched and plopped down on the path with a long sigh.

  “You can’t sleep there, sweetie,” Olivia said. Keeping in step with the other walkers, she scooped the puppy from the ground, shifting the weight of the bulky cast to her hip.

  Too soon, they reached the end. After a heartfelt wave to her fellow walkers, Olivia took a short-cut through the building where Paws for Love employees were hard at work but gladly agreed to watch over Lily. She then headed to the hottest attraction in town—the kissing booth.

  In the shadows near the sizable red booth, Olivia joined the crowd that had gathered around Ben. She saw a connection between the smiling bulldog and the handsome
man, and together, they successfully worked the crowd. Ben made it appear as if Edgar was whispering in his ear, calling the shots as to who in the crowd he requested to kiss next. As the crowd began to clap, prompting that person to step up and donate, Edgar got his kiss.

  “Pick me, pick me,” called a white-haired woman sporting a Florida Marlins hat, who squealed as if she was a contestant on a game show.

  “Over here,” yelled the jumping teen who, when selected, couldn’t wipe Edgar’s slobber off fast enough.

  When Ben noticed Olivia, he called her name despite her frantic attempt to wave him away. “Come on up, Olivia! Ladies and gentlemen, we’re lucky to have the woman responsible for today’s event right here in our crowd. I’ll bet Edgar would love to kiss her to thank her. Can I get a donation to put him in the mood?” The donations flowed, as did the applause.

  With little choice, she moved through the crowd and stood before Edgar, closing her eyes as Ben instructed. She gasped when the lips on her cheek were warm and familiar rather than cold, wet and slobbery. The crowd, again, erupted in applause.

  As the day came to an end, Olivia retreated to her office. Her calculations confirmed the first annual Walk-For-Love-A-Thon was a resounding success. She smiled when reading the list of requests for placement on the vendor list for future events as well as those of possible donors. Over half the Paws-for-Love guests had been adopted; the greatest blessing of the day filled her eyes with tears.

  Olivia made notes for improvements, filling several pages of her ledger before Gretchen joined her, dropping to the settee.

  “You’ve done enough for one day. Pick up Lily and go home,” Gretchen said. There was a strain in her normally gritty voice.

  Olivia threw back her head and laughed. “Have you looked in the mirror lately? I can see you’re wiped out. We’ll talk tomorrow. Can I give you a ride?”

  With a long, exhausted sigh, Gretchen stood. “I’m too tired to argue, but I can drive.”