by Grady, D. R.
“I would like that.” Treeny was a bit alarmed by this patient’s weakness, but if what Melissa, an excellent doctor, proposed was the problem, then the patient should start feeling better soon.
Treeny followed Melissa out the door, and sat at her desk. She didn’t have another patient for forty minutes.
She typed some notes into the patient charts and filled in test forms. This was her only chance to catch up on her paperwork. As she typed, she listed some food allergies one patient had forgotten to mention until the end of the examination.
Speaking of food, Treeny decided maybe she ought to locate some. Not recalling the last time she ate might be the reason why she felt a little faint herself.
“You look pretty rough,” Vanessa said, seating herself at the table across from Treeny.
“Hi,” Treeny said. “Thanks.”
“I’m telling you, Treeny, you look like you’re about to collapse. How much weight have you lost?”
“I don’t know.” Nor do I care, a voice added in her mind.
“That hot man not in your life now?”
Treeny sighed. Maybe if she could cry she’d feel better. But her eyes remained as dry as her heart remained empty. It was like she had turned into an android. No emotions, no thoughts, she just existed. It wasn’t an unpleasant place. Not exactly.
“No.”
“Well, I have good news.”
“Oh?” She wished she could be more interested.
“Yeah, my mama and Dr. Youthers are dating.”
She smiled. The first genuine smile she remembered in a couple of weeks. “That’s wonderful news, Vanessa. I think they’ll make a fine couple.”
“Me, too. He seems to really care about her, and she’s definitely head over heels already.”
“Your mama’s an easy woman to love.” Treeny wished the same could be said of herself. She finished her meal just as she was paged over the intercom. “Sorry to eat and run.”
“No problem.” Vanessa flapped a hand.
“Tell your mama I’m really happy for her,” she said, before she left. And she was. At least someone was happy in love.
She arrived home later that evening to a bunch of people in Rachel and Will’s house. “What happened?” she asked the nearest person, Ben’s dad.
“Looks like their hot water heater burst.”
“I came over to check on things, and found a disaster,” Monica, Will’s mom added.
Treeny nodded. There was more than one here, but she wasn’t about to share that.
“That’s right, they’re on vacation. I forgot.” Max, one of Will’s younger brothers, said from behind the crowd.
“We’d better check out your place, too,” Ben’s dad said, looking at her.
“What?” Treeny turned to see them all staring at her. “Yeah, sure, I’ve got the key right here.”
Everyone tramped up the stairs behind her. She opened the door and wondered if she’d left out anything that might embarrass her. But then that now familiar voice said who cares?
She didn’t, that was for sure. Will and Max’s parents, and a few brothers-in-law, and Ben’s parents all tromped into her apartment. The men immediately headed to the closet that housed the water heater.
The ladies entered her kitchen and Ben’s mom, who could have been nasty since she and Ben broke up, instead marched out of the room carrying Treeny’s trash can.
“This is empty.” How Heather made that an accusation, Treeny wasn’t certain.
She peered into the bin. Sure enough, except for a few paper towels, it was. She nodded at her not-to-be-mother-in-law.
“Treeny, your trash day is tomorrow, this should be piled high. I emptied Rachel and Will’s outside cans, but there was nothing in yours.”
Not grasping the concept Ben’s mother was trying to make, she blinked at her, while confusion swirled. What was the big deal?
“It means you’re not eating, love,” Max’s mom explained, standing shoulder to shoulder with Heather.
“I’ve been eating,” she lied, trying to think of any meals she had managed to consume in the last few days. She couldn’t remember her last visit to a grocery store, much less what she had cooked.
Max’s mom opened her refrigerator. Its bare shelves proved she hadn’t been to the grocery store. There wasn’t so much as a container of milk inside. Ben’s mom opened her dishwasher, which showed no dishes, either clean or dirty.
Both women crossed their arms over their chests and stared her down. “It’s obvious Rachel’s been gone,” Ben’s mom said.
“Yes, I was just thinking that. She would have made certain you ate,” Monica stated. She’d know since Rachel was her daughter-in-law. The ladies wore identical militant expressions.
Treeny finally recalled eating lunch. “I ate lunch today.”
“What did you have?”
Oh, come on! How was she supposed to remember that? Hedging a bit, she said the first thing that entered her brain. “Fruit salad and a turkey sandwich.”
“That’s a start, love, but you need more than that. What are you planning for supper?”
“I’ve been eating out.” she lied again, and her heated cheeks must have given her away.
“I’ll start packing,” Monica said.
Alarm fingered down her spine. “Packing for what?”
Heather looked her up and down and tsked. “To take you home with her.”
“Why? I’m fine here.”
“You may come back once Rachel returns,” Ben’s mom stated emphatically.
“But...” Treeny started, but began sputtering.
Max glided through the door and tossed something into her empty trash can.
“It’s okay, Treen, just accept their total domination. We’re going to the lake anyway.”
Monica turned to her. “And Max will carry you down to the car if you resist.”
“Actually, if KC catches sight of you, she’ll carry you down to the car. And that’s just KC... now Janine...” he trailed off with a shrug, gave her a little pat and left the room.
“We’re worried sick about you, girl,” Ben’s mom said fiercely. “So we’ll take care of you whether you like it or not.”
“Well put, Heather.” Monica offered a firm nod to her sister-in-law.
Staring into these ladies eyes, women who should hate her for breaking Ben’s heart, if indeed she had, but still cared for her made her blink. These women who should have taken his part made her realize something else. Somewhere along the line, Treeny Deveau had become family to them. Despite her relationship with Ben, she had her own relationship with his family.
They must love her or neither woman would care that she hadn’t eaten in days. Neither would be dictating her life. Neither would care that she had stopped taking care of herself.
Instead, she saw sympathy and love in their eyes. She read acceptance. Things she needed so badly, but had held in because the pain was too raw and Rachel was away.
The tears that wouldn’t come before flooded her now, as ragged sobs wrenched through her.
Ben’s mother folded her tight, and Treeny wrapped her arms around this woman offering comfort. If she couldn’t have Ben, his mom would do. Finally, her eyes weren’t burning. The tears raged.
“I think I’ve packed the last of her things,” Monica said. Treeny blinked the sleep from her eyes. She remembered crying and then Ben’s mom helping her to her bed. She couldn’t recall a thing after that until now. She must have enjoyed a nice nap, since they were discussing her.
“Good. I’m relieved she finally cried.”
“I know. I’m glad Rachel called us to keep an eye on her. I think she would have called their vacation off otherwise.” That sounded like Rachel. Her big sister watching out for her, as always.
“Yes and they need this time away. Even though Rachel was right. Treeny shut down on us, didn’t she?”
“I’d say. I’m glad she cried the pain out.”
“Since I haven’t
seen him, I hope Ben’s doing better than this.” Treeny heard the pain in his mom’s voice, and thought their breakup must be difficult for a mother.
“Ben will work through it. He’s being stupid now, but he’ll catch on. He’s smart,” Monica declared.
“Let’s hope he does. This whole deal with him being afraid of losing her is ridiculous.” She watched Heather shake her head and reach out to grasp Monica’s hand.
“It’s silly. We’re all going to die,” Monica said, but Treeny saw her squeeze Heather’s hand. “It reminds me that Will had some difficulties before he asked Rachel to marry him.”
“He did?”
“Of course. He was afraid he couldn’t protect her either. She’d just lost her father, remember? She was a wreck, and he fretted that he couldn’t help her.”
“That’s right, I remember that now.” Heather paused, but then nodded as she added something to one of Treeny’s suitcases.
“And Lainy worried about Mitch changing his mind. She also worried about his safety.” Monica shook her head then ceased her puttering to stare out the window.
“She did. But why worry about losing her to death? Who besides Ben would think that way?”
“Max.” Max’s voice entered into the conversation, and Treeny tamped her rising amusement.
“Max?” his mother echoed.
“Yeah. Max not only worried about losing his woman, he took her to the airport to send her off to war.” He leaned against the doorway from the kitchen, eating a cookie. Where had he found those? Her stomach rumbled in interest.
Both his mother and his aunt gasped. “Of course you did, love—”
“You need to tell that to my silly son immediately. You certainly did send KC off to war. And you survived.” Heather’s voice was no-nonsense.
“There were nights I didn’t think I would, though. Ryan made all the difference. I had to stay sane because of him. But there were nights I’d wake up in a cold sweat, wondering if she was being bombed. Praying nothing happened to her.” Max’s eyes were intense, like Ben’s gleamed sometimes and her heart ached.
Maybe it was easier being a robot. Now that her emotions had returned, she didn’t think she would enjoy life much. Not that she had enjoyed it before, but at least then she didn’t care.
Ben’s mom practically pushed Max out the door. “You go home and you call him.”
“Aunt Heather, I have told him and he’s probably not able to take calls right now anyway.” Max kept eating his cookie and avoided his aunt’s shoves.
“It doesn’t matter, tell him again. E-mail him, fax him, send a telegram. Anything, just tell him. Goodness, he’s worried about Treeny contracting something, but you sent KC off to war. Go!”
Max, laughing by now, kissed his mother goodbye and exited down the stairs.
“I doubt he’ll be able to help much,” Monica said sadly.
Heather spun to stare at her sister-in-law. “Why?”
“Because Ben has to understand all this on his own. No one else can make such an important, life altering decision for him. And he needs to realize Treeny’s the one who’s sending him off to dangerous situations, not the other way around. He’s acting like this because he’s afraid.”
Heather bit her lip. “You’re right. I know you’re right, but I didn’t raise a stupid child. Ben’s bright, how can he...”
“I think he needs time. He’ll figure this out. At least he’ll realize he’s absolutely miserable without Treeny, and that has to mean something.” They both turned and at the last minute, Treeny realized they would probably look at her. She closed her eyes and faked sleep. This wasn’t so hard. With her eyes closed, she had nothing to do but think about what she’d overheard.
How she wished there were easier answers.
A hug from Ben would do at the moment.
Seeing Ben would be enough.
Loving him appeared to be a lifetime sentence.
Chapter 33
Ben drove into Janine’s driveway, hoping she was home. So far the Morrison residences were like ghost towns. No one about, not even a tumbleweed or two. No barking dogs, no kids running around. No babies crying.
He saw a light in the window and thought he might get lucky here. Finally. Exiting the truck, he grabbed his bag and slammed the door shut.
The back door opened before he reached it. Janine stood silhouetted in the doorway. “Well, look what the cat dragged in.”
He bent to kiss her and she hugged him. “Yes, just as I thought. You’ve lost at least ten pounds. Ben, you can’t afford to lose that much weight.”
“I’m getting this from my team, I don’t need it from my sister,” he growled. “Where is everyone?”
“Up at the lake.”
“Why aren’t you there?”
She turned away. “I’ve never been invited.”
He stared at her, mouth agape. “What? You don’t need an invitation, you just go.”
“I’ll have to buy a cabin then.”
“No you don’t. There are 800 relatives, all you do is show up and someone, probably a lot of someones, will offer you a bed. You’ll probably be fought over.”
“I see.” She stared at him, her expression bewildered, as she blinked those amazing amber eyes.
“Get packed, we’ll head up there now. When you go up by yourself, you use my cabin if it’s not rented.” He wondered if he’d gotten all the brains from their parents.
“That’s right, you do have one of those. But I still don’t know where I’m going.”
“Are you telling me that Max and KC haven’t bugged you to go with them?”
“KC seemed to think it was odd that I wasn’t going along.” Janine bit her lip.
“There you go – an invitation.” He waved his arms. “Now, go pack a bag. It’s only Friday night. We’ve got the entire weekend.”
Her eyes gleamed briefly before she cut off all emotion. He sighed. They had to work on her tendency to hide how she felt. That was thoroughly un-Morrison-like behavior.
Five and a half minutes later, she ran lightly down the stairs, a packed bag in her hand. His eyebrows winged. “A little eager are you?” He grinned so she knew he teased.
She didn’t appear abashed in the least. “I’ve never been to the lake.”
“Let’s go.” He headed for the door.
“Have you eaten?”
He turned to face his sister. Lying came easily these days. “Sure. Now, let’s go.”
Janine didn’t move. She stood and subjected him to a very intense scanning. Nodding to herself, after he assumed she came to some conclusion, she set her bags aside and entered the kitchen.
“Janine,” he protested, but she ignored him. She was good at this sister bit. Already. With a sigh, since he was a professional when it came to sisters, he followed her.
“Did you hear?” She opened the refrigerator. “The moms came and kidnapped Treeny.”
“What?” He choked on the sip of the soda he helped himself to.
“She wasn’t eating either. Nor was she feeling. I’ve seen some human robots before, especially while in Kuwait, but none who were as convincing as Treeny.”
“Janine, don’t start,” he warned. He couldn’t handle this right now.
“You’re a SEAL; you’re supposed to be tough. An alpha male. I think you’re a weenie,” she stated. She was too good at this sister bit.
“Thanks.” He heard the dry tone in his voice.
She spun abruptly to face him. “I’m serious. Mom and Aunt Monica and a bunch of the others went to Will and Rachel’s because the hot water heater blew. They convinced Treeny they needed to go upstairs to her apartment to check things out. But I’m sure Mom had other plans.”
“Like what?”
“She checked to see if Treeny was eating. She wasn’t. Nor had she cried. Why she’d cry over your sorry carcass, I don’t know, but she hadn’t. The moms, of course, rectified that.” She placed the plate she filled from the refrigerator conte
nts into the microwave.
“She hasn’t cried?” Because he sure remembered doing so, mostly in the shower. He’d stood under the water and wondered what he had done. Why had he left Treeny? Why hadn’t he stayed so they could work through their problems? “She wasn’t eating?”
“No. She’s lost ten pounds or more.” Janine stared him down again.
He held up his hands in surrender. “I didn’t know.” That wasn’t quite true. Because he knew he couldn’t swallow much, so he wondered if Treeny experienced similar problems.
Janine frowned at him. He resisted the urge to squirm. She was his younger sister. He didn’t have to meet her demands. Ben met her stare for stare. Knowing she was right didn’t help his cause.
His newest sister wasn’t easily intimidated, he soon learned. Unlike all of his other sisters. Usually he could stare them into doing what he wanted. Not Janine, obviously. She’d probably been through similar training.
Janine finally cut their eye contact when the microwave dinged. “Max happened to be there, at Treeny’s apartment.”
“Ah.” It finally clicked where she had received her information. “I didn’t know Max was a gossip.”
“He’s not. On the other hand, he has an incredible brain, and remembered the entire event with ease. He recounted their conversation to me. Probably verbatim.”
“What’s your point?” Ben kept the exasperation out of his voice.
“I’ve been thinking about Max. You know, Ben, he worried about KC too. I think that’s normal for a man. Both your ladies are doctors. The difference here is that Max sent his doctor off to war.” Maybe because her voice was so quiet, Janine’s words impaled him with nail-gun impact. Her subsequent silence was likely on purpose too.
Since the quiet gave him ample opportunity to think. Thanks, Janine, he thought.
Unfortunately, her words rang true. Max had sent his woman to war. He had to remain at home, thousands of miles away, waiting desperately for news from her. Max had managed during those long months. KC came home, and soon after married him.
Max mentioned soon after their wedding how they had nearly thrown their love away, because of miscommunication. They had been thinking exactly the same way, but crossed their wires somewhere and nearly shorted themselves out.