by C. J. Corbin
"Don't you call my car a heap of junk. I love my Range Rover and Don ..." I bit back the words for a moment, "... always keeps it running."
"We can't depend on that now. I'd feel better if you were driving something more reliable."
"We'll talk about it when we get back," I told him as I started the car and it jumped to life with a loud roar. "See, everything is fine."
The animal hospital was located on the other side of Mintock and Michael was right, traffic was slow due to the weather. My twenty-year old car did not like the traffic and it had a tendency to overheat when it had to idle for a long time, but the dogs and I arrived safely.
I was glad the animal hospital did boarding and knew they would give my old cocker spaniel Topper, special care. The cold weather especially affected him and his arthritis. He had been on anti-inflammatory medications for a couple of years and the exercise he received from our daily runs had gone a long way to help him.
The women at the front desk greeted us enthusiastically when we entered. They helped extricate me out of the jumble of dog leashes wrapped around me.
"Is Dr. Scott available? I wanted to speak with him about Topper." I asked the receptionist.
She shook her head. "No Elizabeth, he's out today. His wife insisted he cut back on his schedule after his surgery. However, you can see Dr. MacDermott. He's our new doctor. He'll be taking over after Dr. Scott retires this summer."
I was ushered into an examination room and I sat to wait for the doctor. A young, cute, black-haired technician came in with Topper's file in hand. I stood as he sprayed down the table and laid the file down. He started to read the file and made humming noises as he went along.
"I can see why you wanted to talk," he said with a light Irish accent as he looked up, "our boy's meds have been increasing."
"Yes, that's why I wanted to talk to the doctor. I'm concerned about his liver."
"You are," he commented.
"Are what?"
"Talking to the doctor."
What? This high school student passing as a technician couldn't be our new doctor. I peered at his coat, and, sure enough, I read his name embroidered across the front, Dr. MacDermott. "Oh, I'm sorry." I tried not to scowl. "I thought you were a technician."
"Yeah, I get that a lot," he chuckled. "I like to tease the clients. No one ever believes I'm the doctor." His Irish became a bit thicker and he winked at me.
"Yes, I'm sure, with a bedside manner like that."
"Sorry," he said contritely, "most of my clients get a kick out of it." He held out his hand, "Dr. Kian MacDermott."
I shook his hand. "You're not really the vet, are you? You're not old enough." I peered into his sapphire colored eyes and he smiled.
"I assure you, I have been practicing some years. I know I look young for my age because I've had enough teasing about it. I specialize in geriatric care, so we're going to give Topper our full attention. I'll run a liver panel on him while he's here. We can try some other drugs too. He's in good shape physically, but I know these cold winters probably slow him down."
"You'll call me if you find anything unusual? I'll want to know right away."
"Absolutely," he confirmed as he opened the door to the examination room. "He'll be in good hands with us."
When he smiled, he reminded me of Michael. Yes, a different looking version of him, but the compassion in his eyes was there. I glanced at his hand and noticed he did not wear a wedding ring. Since I had taken Michael off the market, the pickings were slim for the single women in the area. Dr. MacDermott was going to be the newest heartthrob of Mintock.
Later that evening, after I finally finished packing, I crawled into bed and cuddled up next to Michael as he closed his laptop.
"Are you all ready for the trip?" I asked.
He nodded. "I've done this trip alone before but not toting a crew of biologists with me. I just hope they're ready for it. I checked the weather - it's about ten degrees during the day right now, and we'll have about twelve hours of daylight. We're going to be out in the cold each day. Not everyone can hack that."
"Brrr... I'm glad I'm not going with you."
He smiled as he pulled me against him. "You'd be a popsicle in nothing flat. Especially those icy toes you have."
I giggled as I rubbed my freezing feet against his warm legs.
"Elizabeth!" he cried out. "Damn, your feet are cold!"
"So warm me up," I said, grinning before kissing him.
He nibbled on my lips. "What am I going to do for three weeks without you?"
"Oh you'll forget me as soon as I'm on the plane. Marcus and Tommy will keep your attention diverted."
"You forget they will only be there for the last week," he laughed. "The first two weeks I'll actually be working."
"Aha! I knew it!" I exclaimed. "You three will all be getting into some sort of trouble."
"Babe, no need to worry. There really is nothing to do. The place where we are staying doesn't even have running water. Generators power everything. It's a bunch of boring old photographers. We sit around and tell photography stories. Churchill is over two hours away by train from the lodge. I'll only be going into the town once a week to shower and call you. I'll be able to email you from the lodge because they do have satellite internet, but the bandwidth isn't large and we all have to share so I can't even Skype. I have no idea why Marcus and Tommy would want to come. It's the dead of winter, there is nothing going on."
"You only get to shower once a week? You're going to be some stinky boy."
"No," he smiled, "I'm going to be a very lonely boy without my Hellcat." He started to trail kisses down my neck to my shoulders.
"Mmmm..." I murmured, "Why don't you show me just how much you're going to miss me."
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
Early Sunday morning, we drove separately to the airport - our luggage would not all fit in one vehicle. Although my flight left hours before his, he insisted on following me to the airport to make sure I arrived safely. The loudspeaker announced my flight and I turned to Michael.
"I guess that's me."
He wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me close. "Have a good time, Miss Movie Mogul. I'll call you when I get into Churchill, so make sure you leave your phone on."
"I will. I promise. You have a good time too. The baby and I are going to miss you. I think he or she loves that talking thing you do every night. We'll both miss that." Every night Michael had gotten into the habit of rubbing my stomach and talking to the baby before we went to sleep. It was not that I felt any movement from the baby, but it gave me a sense of peace and it relaxed me.
"Then you're going to have to hold the cell phone to your belly when I call."
I laughed with the vision. "I absolutely will do that." They made another overhead announcement for my flight. "Please take care of yourself and be safe. I'll worry about you."
"Don't you worry, my love."
Michael's kiss left me breathless and then he pushed me toward the gate. Before I entered the tunnel that led to the plane, I turned to look at him. He stood there in all his lean, hard, and rugged handsomeness looking like some sort of Indiana Jones and there were tears in his eyes. There were tears in my eyes too. Instead of being sadness tears though, mine were happiness tears. I loved him so much and knew he loved me.
It was a sunny warm March day when I arrived in Los Angeles. To say I was excited would have been an understatement. The following morning, my first meeting was scheduled with the movie's director. I didn't know what to expect but was happy I'd have Nancy with me.
I spotted my dad’s white haired head immediately upon entering the baggage claim area. Somehow, he had received approval to park his car right in the front of the terminal. He was a retired Los Angeles Police Department detective so I guess he still had some pull with someone on the force.
His hug felt just right as he almost lifted me from the ground. "Oh, my Sweet Pea, it's so good to see you!" he exclaimed, showing a
broad smile. He had become especially handsome the older he became. Tanned and still physically fit, he turned many women’s heads and was a favorite escort among his retired female friends.
When he used his nickname for me, it made me feel warm and protected inside. My dad had always been my hero. "Hey Dad," I snuffled into his shirt smelling his cologne, "thanks for picking me up."
He leaned back to give me a look. "How have you been feeling? How's the morning sickness?"
"It's all good Dad. I'm not getting sick in the morning anymore, though sometimes it will hit me in the afternoon if I forget to eat."
He laughed, "Don't worry about that, I think Lisa is planning on keeping both of us fed. She hinted at a tray of lasagna this morning before I left for the airport. I think it was to entice us to babysit the kids tonight so she and Bill can go out."
At the mention of my niece and nephews, my ears perked up. My sister and her husband had a new baby born at the end of the year. I’d only had spent a brief time with them right after his birth. My shoulder had still been healing and I hadn't really been able to hold him.
Dad laughed again when he saw my face brighten, "Yeah, that's what Lisa thought too. She said you could use some fresh experience handling a newborn."
"Goodie!" I exclaimed.
We collected my suitcases and soon were off to Dad's house. I’d grown up in Torrance, a suburb of Los Angeles and our family house was two blocks from the beach. Even though it was the middle of March, there were many people out on the beach enjoying what Southern California did best; offering up warm temperatures in the winter.
As we pulled into the garage, Dad's cell phone chirped. "Yeah?" Dad said as he held the phone up to his ear. "Hey, how ya doing?" He paused for a moment, "Tonight, tickets? I'd love to see the Clippers and Lakers, but my daughter just got into town and we're babysitting my grandkids tonight." He looked over at me tentatively. He was the biggest basketball fan ever.
I nodded at him. "Go ahead Dad, I can handle the kids. No problem."
He finished his call with the largest grin I've ever seen. He chuckled, "Thanks Sweet Pea. You know I wouldn't ask..." he trailed off.
I opened the car door as he stopped the car. "You know it's not a problem. I wouldn't keep you from basketball for anything."
I picked up my briefcase from the trunk and he followed me into the house with my suitcases. The house had remained the same since Lisa and I were kids. Dad had made a few cosmetic changes after my mother's death, such as pulling up the carpets and installing hardwood floors, but essentially the post World War II house was the same as all the others in the neighborhood.
Two large labs, one black, and one yellow came bounding into the kitchen. The dogs immediately pounced on Dad and then me. Holly and Rudy danced around our feet forcing us to stop and greet them properly. I looked around the kitchen and noticed everything was still in the same place Mom had left them. Stepping into this house was truly like coming home; it was as warm and inviting as it had always been.
Dad delivered my suitcases to my old bedroom and left me to unpack as he went out to run errands. The dogs ensconced themselves on the bed to watch me. I changed out of the heavy sweatshirt and put a lighter t-shirt on. After changing, I grabbed the dog leashes hanging from the hook in the kitchen and clipped them on their collars, which was heralded by much tail and butt wagging.
We left the house through the side kitchen door and the dogs pulled me down the driveway. Dad's neighbor was washing his car in his driveway and he instantly looked up to wave hello. There was confusion on his face when he realized it wasn't my dad. I looked surprised too. This wasn't the neighbor I expected to see and I knew this man.
"Ryan?" I asked as the dogs pulled me closer to him. I squinted at him and was sure the man standing in front of me was the same person I dated in high school.
"Elizabeth?" He asked tentatively. "Wow! You haven't changed a bit."
Well, he had. In fact, he’d gotten better. Ryan turned off the hose and walked toward me, drying his hands on the board shorts he was wearing. I remembered him as tall and lanky, one of the few boys in high school who was taller than I was. He now had muscles on muscles and his shirtless torso gleamed with the exertion from washing the car.
“Gee, workout much?” I asked, smiling, while putting out my hand to shake his.
Ryan chuckled, took my hand and the next thing I knew he was pressing a kiss on my cheek. He stepped back still holding onto my hand. “Yeah, just a little. Makes the kids respect me a little more when I stand over them blotting out the sun.” He squeezed my hand and then finally let it go.
At first the reference to the kids confused me, then it clicked into place and I smiled in response. “You became a teacher like you had planned?”
He nodded, “Yeah, I’m teaching P.E. at our old high school and coaching the varsity football team. Your dad told me you’re a famous writer. Sorry I haven’t read anything you’ve written. I don’t remember you writing in high school though.”
“No,” I shook my head, “it was something I started to do in college. I did do journaling in high school though.”
“Oh yeah, I remember. You were writing in the damn notebook all the time.” He pushed back a few of his dark brown curls that had fallen into his face. I remember running my fingers through those curls. His hair had always felt so silky to the touch.
“How long have you been living next door to Dad? I don’t recall him mentioning that he had a new neighbor.”
Ryan looked around and gestured to the house, “Oh, I moved in over Christmas. I got tired of the commute and wanted to live closer to the school.”
I nodded, “That makes sense.”
The dogs began to grow impatient with our talk, which was interfering with their walk, and they showed it by tangling their leashes together.
“I better get going, the dogs aren’t going to stand still for much longer,” I said to Ryan as he helped me straighten out the leashes.
“Where are you going?” He asked.
“I thought I’d take them down to the beach.”
“Would you like some company? I’d enjoy walking down memory lane with you.”
I tilted my head and looked up at him. “Sure, I’d like the company.”
Ryan took Rudy’s lead and we walked the couple of blocks down to the beach. Even though it was a warm day, I was still surprised at the number of people on the beach.
“Married? Children?” I asked as we crossed the street which would put us on the beach.
“Yeah, I was married for about ten years, but it didn’t work out. I played football in college, was drafted pro, and I think Cyndi expected me to become a big football star. It didn’t really work out, and you know all I ever really wanted to do was to be a coach at a high school.”
Yes, I remembered that about Ryan, too. He loved teaching - especially sports. It made me smile to remember how patient he’d been with me to teach me tennis, but I was hopeless when it came to sports, which is why I eventually took up running.
He cocked a smile at me, “What are you thinking about?”
“You trying to teach me to play tennis.”
He burst out laughing. “Oh man! That was a riot!” He looked at me and saw my grimace, “Oh, sorry, I guess it wasn’t that funny.”
I shook my head, “No, go ahead and laugh. You were so earnest about it, even though everyone warned you I was hopeless.”
The dogs pulled us ahead at a brisk pace.
“Your dad told me you’re getting married.”
“Yep,” I said, “I’ve got a baby on board.”
He stopped dead in his tracks. “Now wait a minute! Nice girl Elizabeth does it the wrong way? Baby first and then the wedding?” He laughed, “You have changed! Damn, the girl I knew in high school barely let me get to second base.”
I tossed my head, “If I remember correctly, you mostly struck out!”
Ryan clutched his broad chest to simulate a fake heart attack, “Gi
rl, you are brutal with those memories. My ego is taking a beating.”
“Oh stop it! I’m sure with your good looks you have no problems with the ladies.”
He flashed me a quick grin to confirm my statement.
We continued to walk about a mile and then turned around to head for home reminiscing all the way. The dogs pulled on their leads when they spotted Dad standing in the driveway. Ryan and I let them go and they rushed up to him with tails wagging full force.
“Hey, you two kids meet up?” Dad called out to us.
I nodded, “That we did.” I turned to Ryan, “Thanks for the walk, I enjoyed seeing you again.”
“If you’re not too busy, maybe we can grab dinner one night. I’d love to hear more about your books and your movie.”
“Yeah did she tell you she’s a movie mogul now?” Dad said as we drew closer.
I smiled, “Dad, I’m not a movie mogul.” Then I turned back to Ryan, “Yeah, I’d like to talk with you again. I’ll let you know what my schedule is. I’m not sure right now, but I should know more tomorrow.”
Ryan replied, “Great. I’ll see you soon.” He waved as he headed back toward his house.
Dad and I spent the rest of the afternoon tending to his garden. Later that afternoon, Dad dropped me off at Lisa’s house and her husband Bill greeted me at the door while holding both my niece and nephew in his arms.
Marybeth put her finger to her lips. “Ssshhhh,” she whispered, “baby Owen is sleeping.”
Jon screamed when he saw me and reached out for me. Bill obliged him and put him into my arms. “Don’t worry, Owen seems to be able to sleep through everything. How is our good Queen Bess?” He asked with his British accent.
I grinned at his nickname for me. “I’m doing fine.” I hugged all three of them while stepping into the living room.
He grinned back and winked at me, “No longer the virgin queen I hear. Congratulations on the baby news and your engagement. I’m looking forward to meeting Michael.”
Jon wiggled to get down and Marybeth pulled at my hand. “Come see my Barbies.”