Sarah smiled. “I’m glad. I hope Maxwell slept well.”
Camille peeked into the oven. “You’re making your homemade blueberry muffins?”
“I sure am,” her mother confirmed. “I know how much you love them.”
“I miss your cooking.”
“You’re a good cook, Camille.”
“Thanks, but it’s not the same, Mama. Your cooking reminds me of home and all of the happy memories we’ve made here in this house.”
Sarah nodded in agreement. “I used to feel the same way about my mother’s cooking. But then I had a family of my own.”
Maxwell came downstairs and entered the kitchen. “Good morning, everyone.”
“Good morning,” Sarah responded in greeting. “Breakfast is almost ready.”
Fifteen minutes later, they all sat down in the dining room to eat.
Camille and Maxwell were planning to leave in a couple of hours. They planned to attend church with her family first.
She was so glad she’d brought Maxwell home to meet her mom and dad because he meant so much a lot to her. Camille wasn’t sure where their relationship was heading, but they were becoming closer and closer. When they weren’t working, she and Maxwell enjoyed spending time together.
She didn’t like to think about the day Maxwell would return to New York permanently. Camille was still unsure about a long-distance relationship, but one thing was certain—she didn’t want to lose Maxwell.
Chapter 14
The following week was busy with meetings for Maxwell, and for Camille, placing the final touches on the program for the charity ball.
After the trip to Richmond, Maxwell and Camille decided to spend most of their weekends in New York. They left Friday after work and returned early Monday morning.
This trip, Maxwell took Camille to see a play on Broadway. He had even surprised her with a gorgeous dress to wear. She initially refused the gift when she saw the name of the designer on the label. Camille thought it was too extravagant, but Maxwell insisted she keep it and wear it for their evening on the town.
They returned to the penthouse afterward.
“It’s so cold out there,” she told Maxwell. “I don’t know how you handle this weather.”
“It does take getting used to,” he said with a short laugh.
“I thought it was really cold in Alexandria, but New York is much, much colder.”
Maxwell wrapped his arms around her. “It’s a good thing you have me to keep you all nice and warm.”
Camille smiled. “Yes, it is.”
She laid her head on his chest, listening to the steady rhythm of his heartbeat.
“Ready for bed?” he asked.
Camille glanced up at him. “Sure.”
Smiling, Maxwell took her by the hand and led her to the bedroom.
She was surprised to see the rose petals scattered on the bed. A table laden with chocolate-covered strawberries and chilled champagne had been placed in the room. “When did you do this?”
“I had the housekeeper take care of it while we were out,” he explained. “This is part of our date. It doesn’t end just because we are here.”
She smiled. “You’re spoiling me, Maxwell.”
“You deserve it, Camille.”
Her eyes traveled the room. “I love all of this, but I want you to know something. You don’t have to buy me expensive gifts. I’m a simple girl. I don’t need a lot.”
“This is exactly why I enjoy buying you nice things,” he responded. “You’re my woman. I want to spend money on you. Hey, I can’t take it with me.”
Camille pulled his face to hers. She kissed him gently on the lips. “You in my life is all I need.”
Maxwell picked up a remote.
Soft music began playing in the background.
He turned back to Camille and said, “The rest of the night is just for us.”
Maxwell had fallen hard for Camille. They were in such a good place that it was hard for him to consider leaving her behind when his work for Hopewell General was done.
They walked into the hospital, having driven straight from the airport Monday morning.
Camille rushed off to her office because she had a meeting scheduled in about an hour and she wanted to go over her notes beforehand.
She walked briskly through the doors, waved at her assistant, then sat down at her desk.
“Hey, jet-setter,” Jerome teased from the doorway.
Camille smiled. “Good morning, Jerome. What are you doing here so early?”
“I’m working a double,” he explained as he took a seat. “Hey, I saw Terrence over the weekend.”
Her face registered her surprise. “You did?”
Jerome nodded. “We didn’t really talk, though. He acknowledged me and kept moving.”
“How did he look?” Camille missed her friend, but with the lawsuit still pending, she had to keep her distance.
“Okay,” he responded. “He’s lost some weight.”
“I’ve thought about giving him a call, but Maxwell didn’t think it was a good idea,” Camille said. “I miss him, though.”
Jerome shrugged in nonchalance.
She knew that Jerome and Terrence never really got along. They were cordial most times at the hospital. There were a few times when they disagreed over the care of a patient.
“Maybe you should have reached out to him,” she suggested.
Jerome looked at her as if she’d grown three heads.
“What Terrence needs now is a friend.”
“That’s not me,” Jerome stated flatly. “Rehab is what that boy needs.”
Camille sighed softly. “You shouldn’t be that way.”
He shrugged in nonchalance.
When Jerome left her office, Camille sat at her desk for a moment, debating whether or not she should try and call Terrence. Despite what he had done, all of his friends should not abandon him. He had been sick. This was the reason why he stole the drugs—it was his addiction.
Camille vowed that she wouldn’t abandon Terrence.
However, she didn’t feel the time was right for her to try and connect with him. Perhaps after the lawsuit was over.
That evening after work, Camille made spaghetti for dinner. Maxwell had a late meeting, but came over straight from the hospital about an hour after Camille.
She and Maxwell sat down to eat.
“How are things going with the fundraiser?” he asked.
“Great,” Camille responded. “We almost have everything finalized as far as the menu goes. The auction items are set and a few more are coming in tomorrow.”
She wiped her mouth with her napkin. “I have to admit that I’ll be thrilled when this event is over.”
“Only to do it all over again next year,” Maxwell contributed.
Camille chuckled. “Yeah.”
After dinner, they decorated her Christmas tree.
“I think we did a fabulous job,” she told Maxwell when they finished.
He agreed.
As they admired their work, the telephone rang.
Camille checked the caller ID. “I need to take this,” she told him. “It’s the event coordinator.”
While Camille was on the phone, Maxwell decided to clean up the kitchen for her. She joined him when she was done with her conversation.
“Everything okay?” he asked.
She nodded. “We had a minor glitch, but it’s been resolved.” Camille embraced him. “Thanks for cleaning up.”
“Thanks for making dinner,” he responded.
Maxwell placed his lips to hers.
He suddenly picked her up and carried her upstairs to the bedroom where he undressed her slowly and between kisses. Then, taking his time, he made love to her.
Throughout the night, Camille rode the wave of sleeplessness back and forth. She kept waking up every hour, it seemed.
She gave up on sleep shortly after 5:00 a.m. She eased out of bed, put on her robe, and padded barefoot across the f
loor.
When she peered out of the window, she smiled. It had snowed during the night.
“What are you smiling about?” Maxwell asked, joining her at the window.
“Just thinking about how beautiful it looks outside with fresh snow on the ground. I really hope that we have a white Christmas this year.”
He wrapped his arms around her. “You’re up early.”
“I couldn’t sleep.”
“Is anything wrong?” he asked, his voice filled with concern.
Camille shook her head. “No.” She turned around in his arms. “Everything is perfect, Maxwell.”
He kissed her on the forehead. “I hope you will always feel this way.”
“Let’s go back to bed,” she suggested. “I’m not planning to go into the office until ten.”
Maxwell grinned in response.
“Maxwell’s mom will be here in a couple of hours,” Camille announced to Jerome as they entered her town house. He had come over earlier in the day to play a game of basketball. Jerome was also going to house-sit for her until the electrician came by to check out the wiring in her guest room.
“I need to shower and change before Maxwell arrives. He wants to get to the airport early enough for us to park and meet her in the baggage claim area.”
Jerome followed her into the bedroom. “You two get along well, so why are you so nervous?”
“Because… I don’t know. She’s Maxwell’s mom,” Camille said. “Maybe she was just being nice before.”
“Stop trying to find reasons to worry,” Jerome stated. “Besides, Maxwell doesn’t seem the type to need his mama’s permission.”
Camille laughed. “No, I guess he isn’t.”
“So you have nothing to worry about.”
“You’re right, Jerome.”
“I’m going back downstairs so that you can take care of your business.”
When Camille was alone, she removed her clothes, walked briskly into the bathroom and turned on the shower. She stepped inside, relishing the feel of the hot water against her skin.
Why am I so nervous about seeing Maxwell’s mother again?
Maybe Jerome was right. She was looking for some type of imperfection in their relationship. Camille had never felt such intense emotions before, and she was afraid that something was going to threaten what they had together.
His mother was coming to Alexandria to visit an old friend, but she wanted to have dinner with Maxwell and Camille later that evening. Constance Wade shared similar qualities with her son, one of them being that she was extremely outspoken.
A few minutes later, Camille got out and dried off her body with a towel. She slipped on her robe before padding barefoot into her bedroom.
When she was dressed, Camille went downstairs to join Jerome in the living room.
“You look a lot calmer now.”
“I feel much better after my shower,” she told Jerome. Checking her watch, she said, “Maxwell should be here shortly.”
She ran her fingers through her damp hair to fluff up the natural curls. Camille retrieved a pair of black leather boots from the closet downstairs.
She sat down on the sofa beside Jerome and stepped into her boots.
“I appreciate your staying here until the electrician comes by. What are your plans for this evening?” she asked.
“Julie and I are going to see Prince perform. He’s going to be in D.C. tonight.”
Camille glanced over at him. “I didn’t know that.”
“That’s because you’ve been so busy working on the charity ball, going back and forth to New York,” Jerome told her.
“You and Julie have been glued at the hip,” Camille stated. ‘I guess we’re going to have to double date just so that we can spend some time together.”
He laughed. “You’re probably right.”
The doorbell rang.
Camille did a quick check of her reflection in the wall mirror hanging in the foyer before opening the door to let Maxwell inside.
“I’m ready,” she told him.
“Hello, Maxwell,” Jerome called out.
He responded in kind.
Camille grabbed her coat and purse. “Thanks again for hanging out here. The electrician should be here shortly. Oh, and tape the game for me, Jerome. I’ll watch it sometime tonight.”
She and Maxwell left the town house.
He had sent the jet for his mother. By the time Maxwell made it to the airport, the plane had landed and his mother was waiting for him inside the terminal.
She hugged Camille, and then her son.
“It’s so nice to see you again,” Camille told her.
Constance insisted on taking them to lunch.
Maxwell glanced over at Camille, who nodded in approval. She wasn’t about to do anything to offend his mother.
Words couldn’t describe what Maxwell was feeling at the moment. He was surrounded by the two most important women in his life—his mother and Camille. The two had hit it off immediately and were fast becoming friends.
He smiled as he listened to them chat about shopping and where to find the best sales. “I’ve already got all of my Christmas shopping done,” his mother was saying. “This is the first year I’m actually looking forward to Christmas.”
Maxwell glanced over at Camille, taking her hand in his. “I have so much to be thankful for this year. I’ve been blessed to have this incredible and beautiful woman in my life.”
His mother nodded in agreement. “I’m thrilled for you both,” she said.
After lunch, Maxwell and Camille dropped her off at her friend’s house, and then drove back to her townhome. She didn’t see Jerome’s car.
“I guess the electrician has come and gone,” Camille commented.
“So does that mean that we have the place all to ourselves?” Maxwell asked, a lusty gleam in his eyes.
She nodded.
Laughing, they rushed into the house.
Maxwell’s telephone started to ring.
“It’s Ray,” he announced. “I’d better get this.”
Camille sat down on the edge of her bed.
When he hung up, Maxwell said, “Honey, I have to go. Matthews’s attorney just called. Ray and I have a meeting with him in an hour.”
“I hope that it goes well,” she said.
“Hopefully, I’ll have some good news for the hospital,” he said as he kissed her goodbye.
Maxwell was ready to play hardball when he walked into the conference room, where Terrence Matthew’s attorney was seated at the head of the table. He and Ray sat on opposite sides of the table, facing one another. Maxwell decided to strike first.
“I hope you called this meeting to tell us that your client has decided not to go forth with this ridiculous lawsuit. Dr. Matthews has a serious drug problem and we can prove it. Our investigators have found some interesting information. This not the first time the doc has been in trouble for stealing drugs.” Maxwell had received a report showing that Terrence was arrested when he was fifteen for stealing drugs from a pharmacy.
The attorney struggled to keep his composure. “He was a juvenile and his records were sealed. How did you…” He shook his head.
“Money can only keep a person quiet for so long,” Maxwell commented as he leaned forward. “The hospital doesn’t want to ruin Terrence Matthews. He needs help—help that they offered to provide, but your client turned down. They could press charges and will be forced to do so, if your client plans to continue this farce.”
Maxwell had played the hospital’s trump card and believed it would pay off. “The good doctor will lose his medical license and also serve jail time. We have proof that he’s been stealing drugs for months. We have the evidence.”
The room erupted into thick, tense silence.
It took seconds to conference Terrence and his parents in on a phone call. It was long past time for this lawsuit to come to an end. Dudley never planned to press charges, but the Matthews family did
not know that. The hospital had been blindsided when they decided to withdraw their support, but Maxwell wasn’t fazed by their money.
He was prepared to prove Terrence’s longtime history of drug use, and force Dudley’s hand in filing formal charges against the doctor.
The meeting ended. Ray and Maxwell waited until they reached the car before discussing what took place during the conference call.
“You know Dudley would never have pressed charges against Terrence,” Ray stated. “That was a bold move, bluffing like that.”
Maxwell opened the driver’s-side door. “It wasn’t a bluff,” he responded. “If parading his drug history wasn’t enough to end the lawsuit, we were going to have him formally charged and arrested.”
Camille paced back and forth nervously across the floor while Maxwell was gone. She couldn’t imagine why they would be meeting with the Matthew’s attorney, but Camille prayed it was good news. She hoped that a settlement of some kind could be reached to put an end to the litigation. It would be perfect timing since the charity ball was only days away.
Two hours passed before he returned.
Camille met him at the door. “How did it go?” she asked.
He broke into a smile. “It went well. The Matthews family finally admitted that Terrence has a drug problem and is currently seeking treatment. They have also pledged their financial support to Hopewell General.”
Camille couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “Really?”
“They are not giving as much as they have in the past, but they do not intend to pull out completely.”
She shrugged. “Anything is better than nothing. Besides, we recently acquired a new benefactor.”
“That’s great,” Maxwell said.
“Life just keeps getting better and better,” Camille said, following him into the living room. “Dr. Dudley is going to be relieved that this is over.”
Maxwell sat down on the sofa. “He is. Ray called him after we left the meeting.”
“Honey, this is great,” Camille responded. “Maybe now we can get back to normal at the hospital.” Then her smile disappeared. “This means that you’ll be leaving for New York permanently.”
“But it doesn’t mean that this is the end of us,” he assured her.
Case of Desire Page 13