by Kris Calvert
“Yes, Miss Indie. All your charts and supplies were loaded onto the plane last evening.”
“Great. I just want to walk through the house one more time to make sure I’ve not left anything on or open.”
David picked up a suitcase and smiled at me. “Don’t be long. The old man likes to stay on schedule.”
“I know,” I replied as I glanced out the front door and saw Lewis looking up at my house through a crack in the back window.
One quick trip through the house, a check of the back door and I was on the front porch locking up. I hurried down the hill, giving a fleeting glance to my clean black car in the driveway. I almost hated to leave it for two weeks.
“Don’t worry, Indie,” David called out to me. “The car will be just fine while you’re gone.”
I scowled at him. “I know.”
With my new bag over my shoulder I climbed into the back of the limo and looked to the front of my little house one last time. Standing on the front porch, his hands clasped in front of him like a soldier at ease, was Mike.
“Everything okay, Indie?” David asked.
I did a double take and he was gone. “Yes.” I turned to him and took a deep breath. “Everything’s just fine.”
We drove away as the clouds moved in and it began to storm for the fourteenth day in a row.
TWENTY-TWO
“How are your accommodations?” David asked.
I sat with the elegant old phone cradled in my hand on a bed of yellow silk in the middle of my beautiful suite. “I guess they will have to do,” I replied with a sarcastic sigh, noticing the bowl of apples left strategically on the desk for me. The hotel obviously knew Lewis and his party well. The site of them gave me a pit in my stomach but I shook it off quickly when I noticed the view of the Roman street outside my window.
“Well,” he began before lowering his voice. “You can come up to the top floor of the Hassler and share a suite with the old man and I’ll take your suite. I’m staring out the window at the Spanish Steps right now. All this can be yours.”
“No, thank you. I’m perfect.” I watched the crowd bustle below me. This was living.
“Yes, you are.” I could hear the smile in his voice but I tried to ignore it. “Couple of things,” he continued. “Don’t take a nap. We’re having an early dinner tonight and then you can go to sleep. You’ll be right as rain tomorrow and free of jet lag.”
“Okay, what’s the second thing?”
“I’m really glad you’re here.”
“David, this is why you pay me all this money—to be here—to watch over your father. Tell him I’m on my way up in fifteen minutes. I need to check his vitals and chart some things. I have a call with Dr. Beaman tonight.”
“I’ll tell him. Have you looked at your agenda for tomorrow?”
“No. Anything I need to know?”
“Lewis and I have meetings most of the day, so you’ll be free to do a little sightseeing if you’d like.”
“Okay.”
“Don’t do too much though,” he said, bringing his voice down and closer to the phone.
“Why?”
“Because I want to show you the city.”
“I promise to only hit the shady parts of town. You can show me the highlights.”
“Deal,” he said. “See you in fifteen. Dinner’s at six.”
“I thought you said dinner was going to be early.”
“Here six is early.”
“Right.”
He hung up and I began to unpack my messenger bag and the box of medical supplies. There wasn’t much to do except keep him on his meds, hydrated and make sure he ate well. I almost felt a little guilty for being paid so well to stay close to Lewis and give him two pills each day. Honestly, anyone could do what I was doing right now. Still, I was glad it was me.
I glanced at the clock on the wall and yawned. How was I not supposed to nap? I had two hours of nothing after I checked Lewis’s vitals.
Grabbing my three ring binder, blood pressure cuff and stethoscope, I locked the door behind me and slid the card key into my pocket. A few floors later I was standing in the beautiful top floor suite of the hotel. I gazed out the window watching the tourists and lovers on the Spanish Steps below. Across the street people were crowded in cafes drinking coffee, smoking and living la dolce vita—the sweet life—one of the many Italian phrases David had taught me.
“Grazie e arrivederci a domani,” Lewis said with a sigh as he hung up the phone and I suddenly realized David wasn’t the only Thornbury fluent in Italian.
“Okay, Indie. Let’s get this over with. I have some reading to do before our meeting tomorrow.”
“Yes, sir.” I nodded and quickly walked to him as he sat in a heap on one of the many couches in the sitting room. Sliding the cuff on his arm and tightening it, I looked into his face and saw the fatigue. “Are you sure you should go out tonight for dinner?”
Lewis turned to me and raised one eyebrow as he closed his eyes and breathed deeply. “What makes you think I’m going out tonight?” He opened his eyes as he exhaled.
“David said–” I stopped myself, realizing it was going to be a table for two tonight. “Never mind. I must have misunderstood. I’m glad you’re staying in and resting.” I slipped my stethoscope into his shirt and listened to his heart. “Are you eating soon? Because I’d like to keep you on our medication schedule as much as possible.”
“I just ordered room service. Don’t worry. You’ll have time to give me my pill before you leave for dinner tonight with David.”
I stepped back and the shock must’ve shown on my face. “What?” he asked with a sly smile. “You think I got to where I am without being perceptive? My son has taken a shine to you, and quite frankly I can’t blame him.”
“Mr. Thornbury, I’m here to work. To fulfill–” I began my rebuttal but was quickly cut off.
“Indriel, do you actually think I would bring you into the fold if I didn’t approve of you in every way?”
I dropped my eyes and felt my cheeks flush with warmth. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“I want you to do your job of course, Indie. I need you. You have no idea how I need you.”
“Sir–”
“Will you let me finish?” He was tired and cranky and I’d just stepped on his last good nerve. I stepped away another foot and looked back to the floor. My ears were ringing and my anxiety level shot through the roof. I began to mentally search for the closest stash of pills in my room. Still, I choked out one word. “Yes.”
“David isn’t used to you. I know who you are. I know your worth, Indie. Right now David is a little captivated by you and I’m fine with that.”
I swallowed and pulled his medical chart to my chest and looked him straight in the eye. On the inside I was trembling; on the outside I somehow remained calm. “I’ll be back in a couple of hours to give you your medication. Try to get some rest and please stay hydrated.”
I closed the door behind me in Lewis’s suite and stood in the hallway gasping for air. The longer I was around him the more energy he seemed to take from me. I couldn’t put my finger on it because he was the only patient I’d ever had that made me feel bad just being around him.
I caught my breath and took the elevator back to my own suite and tossed the chart on the table in the middle of the room. I had clothes, supplies and medicine strewn about, but at the moment I didn’t care. All I wanted was a magic pill.
Digging through my messenger bag, I found the small pillbox I’d packed for the plane ride. Inside were six pills. I pushed the sleeping pill aside and popped an entire magic pill and swallowed as the bitter taste scraped the back of my throat.
I opened a bottle of water and took two drinks before taking off my clothes and slipping beneath the covers in just my lacy bra and panties. I set the alarm next to the bed for one hour and immediately drifted off.
“Indie?”
I blinked hard and tried my bes
t to pry open my eyes as I noticed a light in the corner of the room.
“Indie?” The voice was deep and loving. “Wake up, sleepy head.”
I pushed myself back and as I opened my eyes, saw David sitting on the edge of the bed. “Oh shit!” I screamed as I pulled the covers up tightly under my arms. “David, what are you doing in here?”
“I’ve been trying to call you. You activated the do not disturb on your hotel phone and I guess your cell phone is dead. I didn’t know what else to do but to check on you.”
“What time is it?” I pushed the stray hair from my face and looked to the bedside clock, realizing I’d been asleep for two and a half hours.
“It’s time for dinner,” he said with a laugh. “Get dressed so we can go.”
“What about your father?” I shouted after him as he opened the door to my room.
“Oh, he’s waiting for you. Patiently.”
I heard the click of the closing door and jumped from the bed throwing the covers everywhere. “Shit shit shit.”
I grabbed a red dress from the closet and pulled it over my head, walking from the mirrored doors without checking my reflection. I knew this dress was a knockout on me and I figured if Lewis was angry, maybe I could distract him. I rushed into the bathroom and splashed water on my face and pulled a comb through my hair twice before pulling it up in a ponytail.
After brushing my teeth, I pinched and slapped my cheeks. I needed some color and I needed to wake the hell up. I grabbed my bag, a pair of nude heels and rushed out the door.
In the elevator I slipped on the sling-back pumps and opened the tube of lipstick I’d grabbed off the vanity in my haste. As I rolled the tube from the bottom I realized I’d picked bright red. Grimacing at my reflection in the elevator I swiped it on and pressed my lips together tightly.
As the doors parted I took a deep breath and hurried down the hall to knock frantically on the door.
David opened it and flashed me a smile. “Ah, here she is,” he said as if we’d not seen each other five minutes before.
“Sorry I’m late. The alarm went off and I guess I didn’t hear it.”
Lewis gave me a look. He was in his fancy pajamas and robe and his monogram was emblazoned in gold on his left breast. “Let’s just do this.”
I paused for a moment and realized in the rush to leave my room I’d forgotten his medication. “Something wrong?” he asked.
“No.” I sat on the sofa across from him and opened my messenger bag, praying I’d not taken the emergency pills I’d packed for the plane ride out of the bag. Piece by piece I began to take out items. I sat my leather notebook and iPad on the coffee table as I continued to dig. I gave a sigh of relief when my fingers found the small bottle I knew to be one dose of Lewis’s chemo.
Pushing things around, I finally gave up. Pulling Grandma Indie’s Bible from the bag I sat it on the table, getting a better grip on the pill bottle.
“What are you doing?” Lewis asked as he stood quickly and moved away from me.
“I’m sorry,” I said as I pushed down on the child-safe bottle. “I couldn’t get to the bottom of my bag.”
“I mean the bloody book.”
“Oh, I guess I forgot to take it out in the room. Sorry.” I walked toward him with the pill bottle, leaving my things strewn across the table. I stood in front of his massive body and waited for him to hold out his hand. I didn’t have pill cups with me and I didn’t want to use my own fingers.
“Lewis?” He looked beyond me as other patients had done in the past when Spirit came into the room. I knew that wasn’t the case. I didn’t feel Spirit. In fact, I felt nothing. “Lewis?”
He glanced back at me, took the open bottle from my hand and dropped the pill into his palm. Walking away, I saw him toss the pill in his mouth before slamming the door to his bedroom.
I turned and faced David as he stood in a black suit and black shirt. With his hands shoved deep into the pockets of his pants he rocked back on his heels.
“Holy hell,” I gasped. “I didn’t mean to upset him.”
“He’ll be fine. He’s just not used to waiting—on anyone or anything.”
I sat and began to gather my things. “I feel terrible. Like I’ve let him down or something.”
David shook his head no and blinked slowly. “Let’s get something to eat so you can get back and to bed. You obviously need some rest.”
I stood and shrugged my shoulders in defeat. “Maybe we should skip dinner.”
“Nah. Let’s go.” David offered his arm to me and I nodded as I took it. “Do you always carry all that stuff around with you everywhere you go?”
I shrugged my shoulders. “I dunno.”
David pushed the elevator button and smiled at me. “I guess I’m going to have to buy you a really nice handbag while you’re here. You don’t need to be toting that big heavy thing with you everywhere you go.”
I hugged my messenger bag to my body and smiled as the elevator doors opened and we stepped on board. “Just like old saddlebag, new bag needs to go on all my adventures with me.”
David shook his head and smiled. “Tu sei uno di un tipo bello Indriel.”
I squeezed his arm. “I have no idea what you just said but I’m just going to pretend it was a compliment. Grazie, Signore Thornbury.”
We exited the hotel and walked all the way down the Spanish Steps. I took a deep breath. Rome was bustling and beautiful—like nothing I’d ever experienced before. The Fontana della Barcaccia or Fountain of the Old Boat sat at the bottom and the soft trickle of the water made me take pause. I pulled a couple of quarters from the side pocket of my bag and tossed them into the fountain, wishing I could fall in love in a city such as Rome. It was the most romantic place I’d ever been. I turned to David, his face glowing in the lights of the water and smiled. “Are we walking to dinner?” I asked.
“We’re in Rome. We’re strolling.”
TWENTY-THREE
After dinner had been ordered—all in Italian, of course—wine came to the table and I couldn’t contain my happiness as I stared into the bright green eyes of handsome David.
“Your beautiful eyes are dancing in the candlelight, Indie.”
“I was just thinking the same thing about yours.”
It was hard for me to contain my joy. I was in Italy—me—Indie Luce who never got to go anywhere or do anything. Suddenly I’d been on a private plane and now I had a beautiful room meant for a princess and a handsome man sitting across from me. I wanted to tell myself I didn’t deserve the attention, I didn’t deserve the money or the job. But I didn’t. I was glad I was finally getting to live a little. It felt amazing.
David took my hand across the table and gave it a squeeze. I surprised myself and didn’t take it back but instead lovingly brushed my thumb over his knuckles.
A smile slowly crept across his face as he looked from our hands back to me. “Sei bellissima.”
I cocked my head, asking him silently to translate. “You are gorgeous,” he murmured.
“David, what is it that you want from me?”
He looked away as if he didn’t know how to express himself. It was the first time I ever felt like the powerful and suave David Thornbury was speechless. “What is it?” I asked.
“Indie, you’re not like anyone. You’re beautiful of course, but there’s something else. I’ve felt like you know me—I mean, the real me—since the moment we shook hands the first night you came to GlobalTech.”
“What do you mean?”
“It’s hard to explain, but it’s like I’m drawn to you. And quite honestly I’ve never been…you know…drawn to a woman before.”
I paused, wondering if I should divulge what I knew about his mother.
“What is it?” he asked.
“Did you know that your mother, Rachael, knew my parents?”
“What? How?”
“She worked at the orphanage in the Philippines with my Aunt Sally and knew my parents through h
er.”
David shook his head. “That can’t be. My mother never worked at an orphanage.” He looked away as his mind wandered. “At least, I don’t think she did.”
I nodded. “Rachael Love Thornbury. I’m pretty sure she did.”
“Why would my father never tell me about that?”
I squeezed his hand. “Maybe losing your mother was so painful for him he’s never been able to tell you things about her.”
“I don’t know…” David’s words trailed off and I watched him shake off the information quickly and move on.
“You’re different, Indie.”
I snickered a little at his comment. “Probably because women have always thrown themselves at your feet—given you everything you’ve ever wanted.”
“But that’s just it,” he said as he reached across the tiny table and brushed his hand across my cheek. “No woman has ever had anything I desire.”
“David.” I said his name flatly, letting him know I knew of his playboy ways without ruining our lovely dinner by naming his public conquests.
“No, I know what you’re thinking. But no one—and I mean no one is—you, Indie. I feel like I’ve been waiting for you.” He took a deep breath and stood. “I feel like I’ve been waiting for you my whole life.”
Taking my hand, he pulled me to my feet as the accordion player neared our little space in the open restaurant and began to play.
David slowly brought his hands to my face and pulled me to him. I was captured in his embrace, lost in his eyes. The music seemed to fade in my head as he brushed his lips across mine. He lingered and I felt his warm mouth delicately kiss my trembling and swollen lips. “I’m falling in love with you, Indie Luce. I’ve never been more certain of anything in my entire life.”
I returned his delicate kiss and then pulled away. “I can’t. We can’t. I work for you.”
“I’ve never walked away from anything that felt right. I’ve got you in my arms and I’m never letting you go.”
“That’s what my Grandma Indie always said.”