The Doctor’s Promise

by Love, Michelle

  Rafa’s lips twitched. “You want to know how much my mortgage is per month?”

  “Yes.”

  He told her, and Noemi paled. “Well… how about I just rent a room?”

  Rafa threw his head back and laughed. “Girl, listen. Money is just… stuff. Who cares? We’ll work it out! No one will think you’re a gold digger! You’re a surgeon, remember?”

  “Gah. Trapped by my own words.”

  “Yup.” Rafa batted her butt with his hand. “Come shower with me, and I’ll take my rent that way.”

  “Perv.”

  “You know it.”

  Bepi was, of course, delighted to be taken to the kindergarten by ‘Nommy,’ and he chatted all the way. He hugged her tightly when she said goodbye. “Love you, Nommy.”

  Noemi held her tears back, and she smiled. “Love you, too, Bepi.”

  She was still thinking about him as she drove to see Leonora. If she, Noemi, could love Bepi this fiercely when she wasn’t even his mother, she could not even comprehend how Leo was dealing with the loss of Jack. The pain must be overwhelming, she thought, and the idea of Leo suffering made her press the gas pedal a little more.

  Noemi let herself into her sister’s house, calling out to Leo as she did. There was no answer, and Noemi felt a little curl of fear in her stomach. “Leo?”

  “I’m out in the yard.”

  Relief flooded through her, and she followed the sound of her sister’s voice into the small yard. She saw Leo crouched on the grass, digging around the bottom of a small tree.

  “Hey,” she looked around at Noemi, and Noemi was relieved that Leo looked a little better.

  “That’s lovely,” she nodded at the tree, and Leo smiled.

  “It’s a gift from Jack’s school. They’ve planted another in their field from the same sapling in his honor. Honey, are you crying?”

  Noemi wiped her eyes. “Sorry, so emotional lately.”

  Leo stood, smacking her hands together to get rid of the mud. “Jeez, you’re not pregnant, are you?”

  Noemi was relived Leo didn’t seem to need an answer. “How are you?”

  “Same as I was when you asked me yesterday, boo.” Leonora’s smile was too bright, and Noemi could tell her sister’s temper was on the edge.

  “Fair enough,” she said lightly, not wanting a row. “Just wondered if you’d like to come and walk Mouse with me. We’re going out to Alki Beach Park.”

  “No, thanks. I’m meeting some friends in the city later.”

  “Oh, okay.” Noemi was a little stung by Leo’s brusque dismissal. “Leo…? Is ever—”

  “Noe, I swear, if you ask me if everything is okay one more time…”

  “Fine, fine. I get the message.” Noemi said it softly, but she could feel the tears coming again. She turned away. “Well, call me when you want to get together.”

  “I will. Later.”

  Noemi nodded, not looking at her sister. “Later.”

  She drove out to Alki Beach and let Mouse out to run, envying the dog’s boundless joy as she ran free. Oh, to have such an uncomplicated life, she thought fondly. The day was sunny, but a cold breeze blew up from Elliott Bay, and she shivered, pulling her thin denim jacket around her. She walked for an hour, playing with Mouse on the grassy lawns. There were a few people around also walking their dogs, but after an hour, she noticed she was alone apart from a solitary man, walking a few meters behind her.

  She didn’t pay any attention to him until Mouse skittered up to her and growled, staring behind her, her hackles up. Noemi stopped and turned, glancing behind her. The man had stopped when she had.

  Fuck. Annoyed rather than scared, Noemi clipped Mouse’s leash back on and walked towards the man. She kept eye contact with him until she had passed him, a silent warning—I will fight back, asshole, and so will my dog. Mouse jerked slightly at her leash, snarling towards the man, but he did not flinch, just smirked.

  Noemi stopped suddenly and took out her phone. Openly, deliberately, she took a photo of the man. “Just so you know, that’s gone to the Cloud,” she said to him. “So, anything happens to me or my dog between now and my car… they’ll know your face.”

  “Hey, I’m just walking here.” His grin was mocking and surly. He made a lewd gesture towards his crotch, and Noemi gave him the finger.

  “Right… men like you make me sick. You think we don’t feel you standing too close or watching us like predators? Creep. Go back to your momma’s basement, you fucking loser.”

  “Man, you’re one stuck-up bitch.” His grin had vanished. Mouse growled. The man glared at Noemi and stalked off. Noemi smiled grimly. Asshole. She looked down at Mouse.

  “We showed him, Mousie.” Mouse licked her hand, and Noemi bent to kiss her dog’s furry head. “Glad you’re here though.”

  She walked back to the car, and despite her bravado, locked herself and Mouse in as she drove to the hospital. She opened the backdoor of the car and put Mouse in the lockable dog cage, making sure she had enough water and fussing over her. “I won’t be too long, bubba.”

  She snuck up to Gynecology and found her friend Joan, the head nurse. She told her news and asked her if she would scan her. “Just to be sure. I took a fall the other day, and I just want to check.”

  Joan grinned at her, obviously delighted for her. “Of course. I warn you though, if it’s only a month or so, then all we’ll see is the gestational sac, so don’t ask me what sex he or she is.”

  Noemi grinned. “I won’t. Can we do a pregnancy test too? I mean I took a bunch, but it never seems official until it’s done by the hospital.”

  Joan rolled her eyes. “You nerd. Fine, come with me. I assume you’re not telling anyone yet?”

  “Not yet.”

  A few minutes later, Joan smiled at her. “Well, you’re definitely preggo. Let’s see what we can see on this sucker.”

  She squirted cold gel on Noemi’s belly and started the scan. “Well, sweetie, you’re about six weeks, a little more than you thought.”

  Noemi was surprised but nodded. “Not impossible.”

  Joan grinned at her. “Planned?”

  “Not exactly but wanted.”

  Joan was grinning mischievously. “Really? Both of them?”

  Noemi’s eyes widened. “What?”

  Joan moved the screen around. “Congrats Momma… you’re having twins.”

  Noemi burst into tears, half-laughing, half-crying. “Oh, my God… twins? Really?”

  “Really. One. Two.” She pointed out the tiny embryos. “Good news?”

  Noemi nodded, unable to speak. Joan hugged her then cleaned her up. “I’ll give you a moment.”

  “Thanks, Joanie.”

  When she was alone, Noemi took out her phone and called Rafa. She got his voicemail but didn’t want to tell him on a message. “Sweetie, I know you’re working, but I’m coming over. I have some news. Some very good news.”

  She went back down to the parking lot, unlocked Mouse’s cage, and got the dog out to walk her around. Mouse was delighted to see her as if she hadn’t seen her for days rather than forty-five minutes. Noemi walked her around until the dog peed, then loaded her back up and drove into the city. She knew Rafa wouldn’t mind if Mouse came into his office with her, and so she got out, clicked on the leash and started to walk to the elevator.

  The skin on the back of her neck prickled, and she turned, scanning the parking lot. The feeling of being watched was back—but she knew that was ridiculous. The guy in the park, the intruders at Lake Tahoe… why on earth would any of them be here? Mouse didn’t seem to be upset at all.

  Man, pregnancy hormones are making me crazy, she told herself as she walked to the elevator.

  As she rode up, Mouse sitting patiently next to her, Noemi put a hand on her belly. Twins. She could barely believe it. She was still smiling when she said hello to Rafa’s assistant Mary.

  “You can go in; they’re just chatting.”

  Noemi thanked her but sti
ll knocked. Rafa stood and came to meet her. “Hey, beautiful.”

  Zani looked relieved at the interruption—he got up and kissed her cheek. “Savior,” he muttered and disappeared out of the room. Noemi chuckled as Rafa closed the door, giving them some privacy. He mussed Mouse’s fur and grinned at Noemi.

  “This is a lovely surprise.”

  Noemi beamed at him. “I hope I’m about to give you another. I went to the hospital and had a scan. I’m definitely pregnant; all is doing well… and by all, I mean…” She grinned as she built it up. “… both of them are doing fine.”

  “Twins?” Rafa’s eyes widened, and he laughed. “We’re having twins?”

  “Ssh,” Noemi said, nodding to the closed office door as his voice got louder, but then she shrieked with laughter as Rafa picked her up and swung her around.

  He set her down on her feet and took her face in his hands. “You have made me so happy, Noemi Castor. So very happy.”

  “As have you, my darling.” She tangled her fingers in his dark curls. “I love you.”

  Rafa kissed her, then splayed his hand over her belly. “Two of them,” he said, his tone incredulous.

  “I’m about six weeks,” she said. “Can you believe it?”

  He kissed her again, his lips pressed hard against hers. “I can’t believe how lucky I am.”

  Rafa asked her to sit with him for a time, and they talked excitedly about their children. Then Noemi grinned. “Zani looked drained. You been driving him hard?”

  Rafa rolled his eyes. “If you asked him that, he would definitely say yes. To anyone not spoiled? He got off easy.”

  Noemi laughed. “Poor little rich boy.”

  “Indeed.” Rafa sighed. “Thing is… he’s not untalented. He could really make an impact. He’s much more sociable than me. His natural charm? He could charm snakes from trees.”

  “You’re pretty charming yourself, Mr. Genova.”

  Rafa grinned and kissed her. “You’re the only person I want to charm.”

  “Done and done.” She laid her head on his shoulder, feeling tired. It had been a weird morning. “Listen, I’ll leave you in peace.”

  Rafa kissed her temple. “You don’t have to go.”

  “I should.” She smiled at him. “After all, I’ve got to go pack some stuff, bring it over, you know. Can you spare a drawer?”

  Rafa laughed. “Every drawer. You just take all the space you need. Listen, you need anything, just charge it to my credit card.”

  “Nuh-uh.” She wagged her finger at him, and he chuckled.

  “Fine. But look, I want it to be our home, so you want to change anything? Go right ahead, rip out walls, paint it neon pink, anything.”

  “I’m tempted to paint it neon pink just because now,” Noemi giggled. “You madman. Look, we can nest all we want later.” She kissed him and got up. For a second, she was tempted to tell him about the creep in the park, but then why upset him? Her news had put him in such a good mood, and it wasn’t like she’d ever see the guy again—with any luck.

  “Hey, listen, I overheard Mary talking about this great baby store in the city once.”

  “Honeybees, I know. Leo went there when Jack was born.” Noemi swallowed over a sudden lump, and Rafa noticed. He put his arms around her.

  “I’m sorry, honey.”

  She shook her head. “No need. I saw Leo this morning. She seems to be… coping. Maybe a little too well. I’m glad I have this time off work because I think, whether she likes it or not, I should keep an eye on her.” She chewed her lips “The twins…”

  Rafa nodded at her hesitation. “We don’t have to tell anyone yet, baby. We’ll work it out.”

  Noemi took Mouse into the city and found the baby clothing store. She was about to tie Mouse up outside when the owner waved her in. “There’s no one here; bring her in.”

  The owner was clearly a dog lover. She fussed over Mouse while Noemi looked around and chatted to her. Noemi bought a few things and thanked her.

  She walked slowly back to the parking garage, and she was already sitting in the car before she saw the photograph stuck to her windshield. A Polaroid? She didn’t even think they made those anymore. She got out and plucked it from under the wiper blade.

  A shiver went through her. The photograph was of her, chatting to the woman in the baby store. Less than a half hour ago. “Jesus Christ…” she whispered. She got back into the car and banged the locks down, looking around. She couldn’t see anyone else in the garage, and she started the car and drove out as quickly as possible.

  But now she knew. It wasn’t her hormones making her paranoid.

  Someone was watching her.

  Chapter Nineteen

  In her apartment, she packed a few things quickly, hoping Mouse would alert her to any intruders, but feeling the anxiety from being stalked anyway. She threw some clothes into a bag feeling like a candy-ass, but the photograph had rattled her. Put together with the attack in Tahoe and the man in the park this morning…

  Why would anyone be stalking her?

  She jumped as her cell phone rang. “Hello?”

  “Noemi? Drew Ballentine.”

  Noemi blinked, her mind going blank for a second. “Oh. Sorry. Hi, how are you?”

  “I’m good, thank you. I just wanted to check in with you after our chat the other day. Kit said you might need someone to talk to, especially after the terrible tragedy. How is your family?”

  Noemi felt an irrational irritation but pushed it aside. It was nice of him to call, to care, but she didn’t know the man. “We’re coping as best we can. Listen, Drew, it’s sweet of you to call, but it’s not a great time for me to talk. I’m sorry.”

  “That’s okay, dear.”

  Noemi nearly laughed. Dear? The guy was only a few years older than her. Dear? “Some other time?”

  “I’ll hold you to that, Noemi. For now, take care.”

  “You too.”

  She hung up and dropped her phone on her bed, shaking her head. So, Kit had decided she needed to talk to a minister of all people? Her, an atheist, something Kit knew very well. She felt irritable, argumentative again, and had to talk herself out of calling Kit and yelling at him for his presumption. She knew he meant well, that he cared, but it was galling. Why did everybody else think they knew what was best for her all the time?

  Her phone bleeped again, and she gave a small growl of irritation. Her stomach dropped when she saw the message. Another photograph of her, this time walking into the hospital. Noemi stared at it. Could it be a coincidence that Drew Ballentine had called her right before? Was he sending her a message?

  Was it possible that he knew about her and Rafa, that he was angry she had begun a relationship with his stepsister’s lover?

  Noemi closed her eyes, trying to quell the panic inside. No. Kit, her good friend Kit, was a good judge of character—if he suspected Drew’s motives were less than noble, he would never have encouraged it. She dialed his number.

  “Hey, cutie tootie,” came his voice, and Noemi relaxed.

  “Hey, KitKat. Listen, no biggie, but did you ask Drew Ballentine to talk to me? Counsel me?”

  “Um,” Kit sounded guilty, and instantly she knew he had. “Yeah, I did. I was worried, sweetie, that’s all, and Drew’s a good guy. I know you’re not religious, but Drew seems like a good person to help you, is all. Sorry if that was overstepping.”

  Noemi smiled down the phone, relieved. “It’s okay. I mean, it is overstepping a little, but I’ll take it from you. After everything we’ve done together, seen together, I’ll take it from you.”

  “It came from a good place, I swear.”

  “I know.” Noemi hesitated. “You sure Drew is on the regular?”

  Kit chuckled. “Pretty sure.”

  “Kit… I’m seeing Rafael Genova.”

  Kit was silent. “Ah.”

  “So, you can see where I’d be hesitant about confiding in Drew.”

  “I do. Ah, damn, girl, I
’m sorry. That’ll teach me to interfere. Hey, good news though. Does he make you happy?”

  Noemi put her hand on her belly, thinking of her twins. “Unbelievably so.”

  “I’m glad. Listen… do you want me to talk to Drew or…”

  “No, I’ll meet him, explain the situation. He may feel like it would be a conflict of interest, but I owe him a coffee and an explanation at the very least.”

  “Good on you, sweetie.”

  Noemi called Drew Ballentine back and arrange to meet him the next day. “I think there’s something you ought to know, Drew.”

  “I will look forward to seeing you, Noemi.”

  Rafa sat back in his chair, his good mood from earlier gone. “Zani… I’m trying here. But if you’re just going to crap on every suggestion I have…”

  Zani shifted uncomfortably in his chair. “Well, if you weren’t quite so patronizing…”

  “Grow up.” Rafa had had enough and snapped at his brother. “You think I got where I am by just trading on the fact I’m Dad’s son? No. It took hard work to convince the Board of Trustees and our partners that I knew what I was talking about. I’ve grown the business every year since I took over, and it was damn hard work.” He gazed at his brother, his eyes cold. “Even when Tomi was sick, I still worked while you were partying around Europe, shoving God knows what up your nose, and sticking your dick into everything.”

  Zani got up. “Yeah well, that’s going to change now.”

  “Why? You run out of money?” Rafa already knew the answer to that and knew it was cruel to ask, but Zani had gotten on his last nerve this morning. Zani wanted to start at the top of the pile, not put in the work that Rafa had. Zani wanted everything handed to him on a silver platter.

  Not going to happen. Rafa sighed and threw his pen down on the desk. “Look, Zani, you know my thoughts. You’re not without talent—you could be invaluable, especially when it comes to schmoozing the clients. But that would mean travelling a lot back to Europe. You seem to not want to make an effort to do that.”