by Rosie Praks
I took the elevator down, crutches beneath my armpits, and breathed in the fresh breeze when I stepped outside. Flowers were still blooming. The fragrance tickled my nose. There weren’t a lot of patients out here, which I found a bit odd since the day was so beautiful. But I supposed this was a private hospital and only the more fortunate could afford to stay here.
I was sitting by myself, reminiscing about my time with Julian, when I felt someone sitting beside me. I lifted my gaze and sucked in my breath. It was that beautiful woman from my dream. I thought she was only a figure of my imagination because I missed my mother so much. But here she was, her eyes smiling at me.
“Hello,” she said.
“Hi,” I replied. I couldn’t say anything else. This woman was beautiful. The way she acted was so refined. Was she one of the nurses? But I hadn’t seen her since that first night.
I surveyed her further. She looked to be in her late thirties, her scarf partially covering her face. Her eyes were a grey color. She was as beautiful and captivating as Julian. If she were competing against me for Julian’s attention, I would lose, hands down.
“How are you, my dear?” Her question drew me back to reality.
“It was you, wasn’t it? That night,” I asked.
She smiled. “Yes, it’s me.”
“I thought I dreamed you,” I confessed, realizing she was as real as me.
“No. I’m real.” She smiled again, turning to me and slowly touching my loose tendrils.
I was startled. I shifted back a bit. She ignored me and moved closer, completing her task of tugging my loose tendrils behind my ear, until all my wispy ends were neatly bound.
In all of my life, no one had ever touched me like that. Except Mama.
Mama passed away when I was very young. But one of my many memories of her was when she would tug my loose strands behind my ears because I could never tame it myself. And this woman did just that.
And now I found I wanted more. I wanted to feel her touch on my head patting my hair, on my skin soothing me when I grazed my knee, or on my forehead kissing me when I fell off my bike. I almost cried. A nostalgic feeling settled inside my heart.
I missed Mama. Papa was a good dad, but I could never talk to him about the things a daughter could talk to her mother about. When it came to women's topics, I had no one to consult. I grew up fighting my own battles.
I felt a little choked up. I couldn’t believe my desire for maternal love at this age. I was already twenty-two, clearly an adult, but I found myself leaning into her, craving her touch, like a child would crave her mother’s touch.
“Can… can I hug you?” I found myself asking.
She smiled lightly and opened her arms for me. I leaned in and hugged her.
She smelled of strawberry, a scent I loved. She was so warm, her arms hugging me all around. And that was when my tears started. They rained down like a waterfall. And I found once I started, I couldn’t stop.
“Hush, hush, child. What’s the matter? Why are you crying?”
“I don’t know. I… I miss my mother. And you remind me of her,” I sobbed into her blouse.
“Is your mother not here with you?”
“No. She passed away when I was little.”
“It’s okay, my dear. Just hug me. Pretend I’m your mother.”
I hugged her. And I cried some more. Finally, when I gathered myself again, I drew back.
“I’m sorry,” I said, wiping my tears. “I’m not usually like this. I’m usually a confident woman. I don’t cry in front of people. I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be.” She traced my eyes, wiping away at the few remaining teardrops lingering on my lashes. “You are so beautiful. I wish I had a daughter like you.”
I laughed lightly, choking with my tears. “You’re too young to have me as your daughter. I’m already in my twenties.”
“Still.” She looked at me, lightly tugging my loose strands behind my ears again. And then she paused, her eyes focused on the rose pendant necklace around my neck. “Your necklace, it’s beautiful.”
The change in topic had me touching the pendant. A smile immediately curved up my lips.
Julian. Just his name alone made me brighten like the sun in the sky. He really was my sun.
“Yes, it is.” I touched the rose pendant lovingly.
“Who gave it to you? Your mother?”
I shook my head, a smile on my lips, remembering how Julian had forced me to accept this necklace in front of all the press. Now that I thought about it, I wouldn’t change a thing. “My boyfriend. He gave me this necklace.”
Seeing the glowing expression on my face, her face brightened too. “You love him, don’t you?”
“Yes. Very much.”
“Does he treat you well?”
I paused, thinking how Julian had treated me. He cared for me; that much I knew. Even though he'd never said he loved me with those actual words, he used his actions to display his affection.
I nodded.
“That’s good to know. A good girl like you deserves to be loved and cherished.”
“Now you make me sound like a trophy that deserves to be put on a pedestal.” I laughed, feeling so much better after that cry. I settled in my seat more comfortably and told her all my bad habits. “I’m not a sweet thing at all. I’m very temperamental. My boyfriend and I, we fight all the time. But we also make up fast too.”
“That’s good to hear. It sounds like you both trust each other a lot.”
“Trust.” That word put a sour taste in my mouth. “The word trust should also be paired off with the word truth. When you tell someone the truth, then you can trust that person, isn’t that right?”
“Yes, you could say that.”
“That's what my relationship is lacking right now. Truth.”
“What do you mean?”
I turned, confiding in her my secrets and fears of my relationship with Julian. Usually, I don’t spout out my problems to strangers like this, but there was something about her, a certain quality that made me trust her. I didn’t know what. But I was just comfortable being in her presence.
“You see, my boyfriend, he has secrets, secrets he can't tell me about. When I ask him, or when we get into fights, it’s always about these secrets of his. I find sometimes it’s draining to be with him because of this lack of honesty between us.”
“Maybe he has a lot on his mind and isn't ready to reveal those things to you yet.”
“Do you think?”
“I don’t know.”
I sighed. “Does all love have this kind of complication?”
“Apart from not having the trust and truth factors in your relationship, what else are you lacking?
“Umm. How do I explain it? It’s complicated.”
“Complicated?”
“Yes. It’s like… It’s like our love is twisted.”
“Twisted?” She tilted her head in question.
“Yes. Sick. Abnormal. Nothing a normal couple could go through and survive.”
“Tell me more.”
“It’s like he used me, tricked me, but still I fell for him. And I can’t stop thinking about him, and now I’m trapped. Even when he told me again and again to trust him, without giving me a reason as to why he did all those things to me, I still followed him and listened to him. I… I love him. And I can’t stop myself from not falling for him. So what kind of relationship should I call this if not twisted?”
She sighed deeply, then patted my hands and squeezed them tight.
“Sometimes, child, maybe it’s best to give him some time. Maybe what he needs from you is your support and patience. Perhaps it’s something he’s going through. Give him a bit more time. He’ll come around.”
I squeezed her hand back for reassurance. “Do you think so?”
“I hope so.”
I smiled. “You speak like you know my boyfriend.”
She only laughed and shook her head. Then she changed the topic aga
in. “I see you’re looking much better than the last time I saw you, my dear.”
“I’m feeling much better, thank you.”
“That reminds me. How did you end up in hospital?”
“I fell down the stairs.” I wanted to tell her more, but my sudden urge to know her more overrode this thought. “How about you? How did you end up here? Are you a patient here or a nurse?
“I’m a patient.” She looked at her hands resting on her lap.
My eyes flicked down, but before I had a good look, she covered her hands with her shawl, like she was insecure. I turned my gaze away, clearly understanding her discomfort.
“Are you unwell?” I asked, changing the topic.
She must have known what I meant. She was wearing a scarf, covering half of her face, and her whole body was concealed, even on such a hot day.
She smiled sadly at me, patting my head. “I’ll get well soon, my dear. Don’t look too worried. You just look after yourself.”
She stood, dusting herself off. She was about to leave when I caught her wrist.
“My name is Kimberly,” I said before she turned to go. “Will I see you again? I would like to be your friend.”
She smiled at me, her eyes a little sad. “Caitlin. I’m Caitlin. And yes, we’ll meet again. I’m sure of that.”
My mouth stretched into a smile as I watched her walk back into the hospital building. Then I swore at myself when I realized I hadn’t given her my contact details.
Oh, stupid Kimberly. The one friend you’ve made and now you’ve lost all contact with her. I drummed my head at my own stupidity.
I stayed outside for a few more minutes, just relaxing and soaking in the sun. Just as I was about to leave, someone took the seat beside me. I turned and smiled, thinking perhaps Caitlin had come back to give me her phone number, but with one look, I could tell it was not her.
“Hi.” The male stranger greeted me, his voice slightly husky. This man had soft blond hair and baby-blue eyes. He was about Julian’s height. His long legs stretched at a good length as he sat next to me on the small bench. “Beautiful weather today, isn’t it?”
I smiled back, glad there were more people to talk to. “Isn’t it always beautiful here in Miami?”
“I don’t know. Haven’t lived here long enough.”
“You’re not from around here?”
“Nope. Today marks three months for me.”
“Well, Miami is very hot, just like Australia in summer.”
“Is that where you’re from, Australia? I could detect an accent, but I just couldn’t determine where.” His eyes smiled at me.
I laughed. It was good to laugh. After that good dose of crying, I was ready for some laughter.
“It’s great to see you smile.”
“I am smiling. Because of you.”
“I’m Doctor Andrew Kensington by the way. But you can call me Drew.” He relaxed against the seat, one arm slung to curve slightly around my back.
I edged away a bit but replied to him anyway, still quite cheerful. “I’m Kimberly, a patient.”
“I can see that,” he said, referring to my hospital gown and broken leg.”
“Are you off duty today, Dr. Kensington?” I asked, eyeing his slacks and causal shirt.
“Yeah.” He ran a hand down his thigh.
“Where are you planning to go?”
“Don’t know. Could you suggest some good places?”
I laughed. “You've asked the wrong person. I’ve only been here a couple times. Hardly enough to recommend anything fun.”
“Mmm.” Drew observed me. “You know what we should do?” He turned his broad shoulders to face me.
“What?” Amusement lit my eyes.
“We should go out and explore. You and me. Tonight.”
“What? No.” I laughed. “I’m a patient here, Dr. Kensington. If you must know, I need to recover first.”
“Mmm.” Drew surveyed me again, running his eyes up and down my body.
I only laughed. There was no electric current or hot friction in the air. The atmosphere between us was almost like close friends chatting.
God, I missed having a male friend.
What was wrong with me today? First I wanted a mother, and now I wanted a male friend.
“You broke your leg?” he asked, seeing my leg in a cast.
I tapped my knee. “Yes, which is one reason I can’t go out with you.”
“I could always cart you around town.”
A burst of giggles emerged from my throat again. Now I couldn’t stop them. I laughed and laughed. “You're so funny.”
“I was only joking.”
“I know.” I settled down.
“No, I really am joking. I’m on duty tonight. If I don’t work, my dad's going to kill me.”
“Why would he kill you? And even if he tried, I’m sure you could save yourself.”
“Well, he could fire me.”
“From this hospital you mean?”
“Yep.”
“How can he have so much power? Does he own this hospital?” I queried.
“Yep.” He nodded shyly.
“Oh my God, you’re—”
“Shushhhh.” Drew clamped my mouth. “Don’t say anything. I don’t want anyone to know.” He backed off and smiled at me.
How could I not know this was the Drew Kensington? They were billionaires who owned an entire empire in America.
“Why would you not want anyone to know? Sooner or later, you’ll inherit this hospital and then everyone will know.”
He shook his head. “No. I have four other brothers and three sisters. Since I’m fourth in line, I don’t think I’ll inherit this hospital.”
I laughed again.
“What’s so funny?” he asked, his eyebrows all wrinkled.
“The Kensington should be renamed the Brady Bunch.”
“Yeah, I could call myself that. Drew Brady. That could be like my secret alias.”
“Is it fun having so many siblings?” I took the conversation in a bit of a different direction.
“It’s good seeing them once in a while, but not every day. It’s a cutthroat business.”
“Really, having so many siblings is like that?”
Was that what it was like to have siblings? I had none, so I couldn’t understand this particular assessment. Although, I'd always wanted some. But look at what happened to Julian’s family. They were broken.
“I was only joking.” Drew chuckled, seeing my worried face at closer range. “You’re taking everything at face value. No, we’re a good bunch. Mom and Dad took care of us well. We love each other. Do you love—”
It was all happening too fast. One minute Drew was talking to me; the next he was on the ground with a bloodied lip. I was somehow hauled onto my feet and braced against a wall of steel chest.
“Don’t you fucking touch my woman!” The fury vibrated off his chest as he warned Drew off his possession.
I felt anger radiating from within and stared at the man who'd hurt my new friend.
“Julian!”
* * * * *
Chapter 17
“Jesus. Hold your horses, man.” Drew held up his hands in surrender. “I didn’t know she was your woman.”
Fury was Julian’s second name. The emotion pulsated through him as he stared Drew down. “Don’t fuck with me. Get out of my sight.”
“Okay! Fine! I’m leaving.” Drew crawled up from his fall and turned to me, his face softening. “Sorry, Kimberly. I’ll see you later.”
And then Drew was gone.
I was flabbergasted by this whole scene. I pushed at Julian’s chest to break free. “What the hell was that for? He was only talking to me.”
“He was staring at you. He was only an inch from your face.”
“So.”
“So?” He grabbed my elbow and dragged me to face him. “Am I not giving you enough? Is that why you ventured out and talked to other men?”
“M
en?” I couldn’t believe this. “That was only Drew.”
“Drew? So you’re on such terms with him now, calling that stranger by name.”
“Drew is not a stranger. He’s a doctor here.” I yanked my arm out of his reach.
“He’s not wearing his uniform.” He grabbed hold of me again.
I struggled out of his hold and yelled at him while picking up my crutches. “I don’t care. He’s my friend.”
Julian crouched down beside me, his voice chiding in my ear. “He’s not your friend. He’s a stranger. And you shouldn’t talk to strangers.”
I twisted my face, fire glaring in my eyes. “Julian, you’re not my mother. So don’t pretend like you are.” I angrily adjusted my crutches and hobbled away.
I was fuming mad. What had gotten into him? Why was he being such an ass?
“Where are you going?” he boomed after me, following my footsteps.
“Back to my room,” I yelled. “I don’t want to talk to you right now.”
“We haven’t finished our conversation yet, Kimberly.” He caught up to me, gripped my arm, and dragged me to face him again.
“Well, I’m done talking to you.” I snatched my arm back. “I don’t want to talk to you. Go away.”
“Kimberly…” Julian paced after me while I hobbled on my crutches again. He blocked my path. “Tell me. You like him, don’t you? In the time I wasn’t there to entertain you, you found you like him. You’re going to see him again. Like he suggested. I won’t let you. You’re mine.” With this said, he tugged me with such a force I fell into him. “Mine, Kimberly, you’re mine.” He kissed me savagely, tormenting my lips with his tongue.
I wasn’t in the mood for his split personality today. Too many emotions took over within me. So I jabbed the end of my crutch onto his foot. Julian jumped back in pain.
“Ow! What was that for?” He glared at me.
“For being an irrational, mindless idiot. Now get out of my way. I don’t want to talk to you. You can go. Go do whatever it is you’re supposed to be doing. I don’t want to see you tonight.”
“Kimberly…” There was a sharp edge to his voice when he called my name, but I ignored him and kept going.
I knew Julian had a limit, but today I pushed him further. I added fuel to our already burning fire. “Go away. I don’t want to talk to you. You’re always so moody. At least Drew made me laugh. You, Julian, you make me sick.”