Second Opinions: A Lizzy and Dr. Darcy Story (Meryton Medical Romances Book 2)

by Ruby Cruz

  He sat on the bed next to me and brushed the hair from my face. “Take it easy. I gave you a pretty hefty dose of Versed and Phenergan.”

  “Please tell me it worked and I didn’t end up puking all over the plane again.”

  “You slept the entire way. You didn’t even wake up and sing kumbaya.”

  “Funny.” I slugged his arm, then immediately regretted the movement as it made the room start spinning again.

  “Vertigo?”

  “A bit.”

  “It should pass. You’re probably a little dehydrated also.” He retrieved a bottle of water from the nightstand and handed it to me.

  After taking a tentative sip, I commented, “You’re probably wondering how you got stuck with such a pukey, gimpy girlfriend.”

  “I’m ecstatic that my beautiful, intelligent and athletic fiancée is home safe with me.” He gathered me into a hug. “And I finally have you alone in an empty house.”

  ~

  The reality check continued the longer I was at home. After my graduate school classes resumed, I had the added bonus of returning to my family and friends. Not that I didn’t want to see my family, but after being exposed to the cold emotions of Aunt Catherine as well as the meticulous organization of her Hamptons manor, Sunday family dinners at Mom’s house felt chaotic and jarring.

  Two weeks after returning from the Hamptons, Chloe screeched as she ran through the house wearing fairy wings and a tutu and terrorizing Mom’s little dog Misty while Charlie chased after her. Hal sat in the living room with the television blaring and watched a Giants game. I was somewhat surprised to see him since he’d been working overtime the past few weekends.

  I sat in the living room with my leg propped on a pillow and leaned against Darcy. It was the first weekend we’d been able to spend together since he’d started traveling to San Francisco. His aunt had long been discharged from the hospital, but apparently his presence was still greatly needed for the ongoing negotiations. My ankle, though mostly healed, was still tender at times, and I used it as an excuse to cuddle with my boyfriend - correction, fiancé - since I hadn’t seen him for nearly two weeks and wanted to spend every possible moment with him.

  The two weeks apart hadn’t been as horrible as I would’ve thought. I’d been so busy with classes and attempting to go back to work on a bum ankle that by the time I could even think about talking to Darcy or emailing him, I was too exhausted to say anything other than the bare minimum.

  Will seemed to be the same - the business world taxed him much more so than his grueling on call and overnight hours at the hospital. When I questioned him about it, he cited business dinners, early morning meetings, and the fact that he considered negotiating with clients and potential investors as well as placating board members an exhausting chore. “You know me,” he’d told me, “I’m not a great people person. There’s a reason I chose not to go into business.”

  “Just pretend the company is the patient you’re trying to heal and the people you’re dealing with are the worried family members. You do pretty well when dealing with them.”

  “I’m more likely to think of these business people as ignorant members of my healthcare team.”

  “Definitely don’t think of them as that. Remember, the more you bully these guys, the less likely you’ll get them to agree to your terms.”

  “Ana is so much more suited to this type of work.”

  “Too bad she’s low in the testosterone department.”

  Jane was helping Mom in the kitchen, or attempting to, at least. Mom usually didn’t like us helping with the meal preparation, but she was eager to ply Jane for more details about her honeymoon. Apparently, Mom was trying to bug Hal into taking her on a nice vacation since they really hadn’t traveled anywhere since their own honeymoon to Niagara Falls six years before.

  Darcy had agreed to accompany me to the family dinner before taking the red eye back to California later that night. He would meet his aunt and Ana at the company’s office building in San Francisco the next morning and I knew that, while he wasn’t eager to spend the night attempting sleep on a plane, he wanted to stretch out the time spent with me.

  I didn’t blame him - the past few weeks had taken their toll. He’d been neglecting to style his usually neatly trimmed hair, which was longer than usual, so it hung with a slight wave on his forehead. I actually liked the look on him since it made him seem a little dangerous and very sexy, but I didn’t like the dark circles that rimmed his eyes from stress and lack of sleep.

  He was quiet as we sat on the couch together, his eyes on the television but not really watching. I laced my fingers through his. “What’s going through your mind?”

  When he turned to face me, his expression was hooded. He lifted our linked hands to his lips and kissed my knuckle. He spared a glance at Hal, whose eyes were glued to the television. “I can’t believe I almost lost you a couple weeks ago.” His voice was nearly inaudible over the football announcers in the background.

  “You make it sound as if I were dying.”

  “That’s how it felt to me.” He turned my hand over, caressed the ring finger of my left hand. “The sooner I can put something here, the more settled I’ll feel.”

  “I could always wear the rock I gave to you,” I quipped.

  “You deserve better.”

  “No, I don’t. Because all I need is you. I don’t need a fancy ring to prove you love me.” We kept our voices low.

  “Perhaps not, but it’s something I should have put on your finger a long time ago. I feel embarrassed I haven’t gotten you one already.”

  “We’ve only been dating a year.”

  “Yes, but I’ve known I’ve wanted to be with you since then, maybe even before. It seems senseless to wait when I’ve known for a long time my future is with you.”

  The words were so genuine, so heartfelt, I could feel tears begin to form. I sighed. “I wish you didn’t have to leave tonight.”

  “Believe me, Lizzy, I wish the same thing.” He fell silent again. “We all make sacrifices for the people we love.”

  “It seems like you’ve made more than your share. But I understand what you’re saying.”

  He held me more tightly and murmured into my ear, “I’m just grateful I didn’t have to give you up also.”

  His words cut through me, the guilt gnawing as I realized how big a mistake I almost made. Interlaced with that was the knowledge of Dr. DeBourgh’s very real hatred for me. “I’m still here.”

  “Okay, lovebirds, I’m a pretty tolerant guy, but go get yourselves a room, or at least take it to the car,” Hal called out without taking his eyes off the television.

  I giggled like a school girl being caught making out in the janitor’s closet - not that I’d ever done anything like that - or sneaking a kiss in the clean utility room at the hospital.

  “Hey, you can still see our hands,” Darcy announced, holding them up for Hal to see.

  My stepfather still didn’t look at us, but responded, “Still, I don’t want to see you whispering sweet nothings in Lizzy’s ear. I don’t care what you two do outside this house, I just don’t want to have to listen to any of it.”

  “Understood, sir,” Darcy acquiesced, his face serious, though I detected a twinkle in his eye.

  ~

  I left the living room to see if I could help with chopping raw vegetables for Mom’s crudités after Jane sat down to rest. She’d been looking quite pale, but when I asked her if she was feeling okay, she merely nodded.

  “I was just thinking about how nice it is to see both you and Jane settled for once.” I thought my mother’s comment rather odd given her almost sad expression but didn’t pry further. I chopped for a few more minutes in silence while she mixed some type of dipping sauce for the vegetables.

  “So, Lizzy, when do you think he’ll pop the question?” Mom asked, breaking the silence. “It’s already been a year since you two started formal
ly dating, though even I could see that you two were made for each other from the beginning.” She always liked to point out the one time she’d met Will at the Nurses Gala two years ago, the time when she’d spectacularly embarrassed me while I was enduring an awkward dance with him and hating his guts the entire occasion.

  I really wanted to tell her my news - though the shock of it would probably have thrown her into cardiac arrest - but Darcy and I had agreed to wait until I had a proper ring on my finger and we were able to speak with his aunt.

  “Well, actually, there’s sort of a snag in our relationship.” I felt awful. I hated giving a half-truth, but I couldn’t see any other way to let her know why Darcy would be leaving Meryton.

  “What do you mean?” Alarm filled her voice.

  “You know how Will’s grandfather died a few weeks ago?”

  Her brows knit as she nodded in confusion.

  “His aunt is taking over the company and Darcy is helping out on the board of directors.”

  “So he’s getting a promotion?” Mom asked, delight filling her eyes as she considered her daughter’s rich and successful boyfriend was about to become even richer and more successful.

  “Not quite. He’s on a leave of absence from his practice to work at his aunt’s company. In San Francisco.”

  “But I thought Luke works in Manhattan.”

  “Yes, but Will is going to be working out of the San Francisco office for the next few weeks.”

  “But what about his house here? What about you?” Panic seeped into her tone. “Is he breaking up with you?”

  “No, no! I’m going to finish my degree here and stay in his house, and he’ll come back on weekends. We’re going to make it work.”

  “Thank God.” She breathed a sigh of relief. “I don’t see why you don’t just quit your job and join him in San Francisco. You’re living together anyway, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t follow him.”

  I closed my eyes and tamped down the annoyance her words simmered within me. “He and I discussed things. For now, I’m staying in Meryton. We’re not sure if he’s going to be needed permanently at this new job, so now it’s just temporary. Who knows what’ll happen in the future?” I decided vague was the way to go. I didn’t want to be caught in an outright lie. I wished to tell her the truth of our engagement, but didn’t think it fair to tell her and not Darcy’s family at the same time.

  “Well, just be careful. Long distance relationships can put quite a strain on couples.”

  “I know, Mom.”

  My comments had clearly upset her, and I felt horrible. She silently arranged the vegetables on a plate and dolloped dip into an accompanying bowl. “Here, please take these out. I’ll finish up. You just spend time with your boyfriend while you can.”

  My eyebrows knit slightly. Instead of Mom’s usual exasperation and disappointment with me, there was genuine sadness in her voice, and I actually felt quite a bit of remorse for not being entirely truthful with her.

  As if on cue, Jane entered the kitchen and asked if she could help with anything else, but Mom shooed her away. “Go spend time with your men,” she ordered. Jane and I glanced at each other but said nothing.

  I followed Jane quietly as she carried the tray of vegetables and dip to the living room where Chloe was practicing somersaults and laughing with Charlie. Darcy looked on, his expression neutral, and appeared deep in thought. Like earlier, Hal was ignoring everyone and continued to watch the football game.

  Lately, I’d begun to worry about Hal. Ever since Lydia had married George, Hal had become even more sullen than usual. He’d always been reticent, antisocial even, but ever since his daughter’s indiscretions came to the forefront resulting in her bankrupt state, he’d withdrawn even more. He spent Sunday dinners uttering no more than a couple of grunts and one word answers. The past few months he’d been absent for many dinners, volunteering to work the weekend shift at his job as the facilities manager at the local power station with the only excuse being that he was preparing for retirement.

  I smiled at Darcy, but set myself on the floor at Hal’s feet. I nudged his leg, “What’d I miss? Are the Giants going to suck it up again this season?” Even though I wasn’t an avid football fan like Hal, I knew enough about the sport to carry on a decent conversation with him about the game.

  Hal grumbled. “Two interceptions, but the Eagles couldn’t get ‘em in the end zone. Buncha losers.”

  We watched another couple of plays when the Giants offense performed a spectacular play that resulted in a 55-yard run and the ball inches from the goal line. When Manning ran the ball into the end zone, I leapt from the floor and cheered with Hal as we high-fived. From the corner of my eye I could see Darcy watching us with bemusement. He was an Eagles fan, a fact that caused me to rib him endlessly.

  After the excitement died down from the score, I settled down on the sofa with Darcy and elbowed him in the side. “Didn’t I tell you Eli works best under pressure?”

  He scowled at me, though from the twinkle in his eye he knew I was just needling him. “Let’s see how he performs during the rest of the season.”

  “You’re just jealous because I think he’s cute.” This fact, more than anything, bothered Darcy, which of course, necessitated me having to remind him of it endlessly.

  “He’s a gorilla.”

  “His endorsers don’t seem to think so. He keeps showing up on TV, need I remind you.” I sighed dramatically. “Too bad he’s married with kids.”

  “His poor wife, saddled with that talentless ape.”

  “I wouldn’t exactly call her poor. He’s probably wealthier than you.”

  “Not for long,” he reminded me as he twined a lock of my hair around his finger.

  By the time the Eagles lost by a field goal, Mom had finished preparing dinner and we sat around the dining room table. Chloe turned up her nose at the green bean casserole her mother doled on her plate. I didn’t blame her much - green beans were definitely not my favorite, especially when drenched in thick, creamy mushroom sauce.

  I eyed the roast chicken as Hal did the honors of slicing into the bird. Didn’t look pink on the inside, thank goodness, though the meat seemed a bit dry. When I sampled a bit of white meat, I relaxed. Not bad, considering the last time Mom roasted a chicken, the meat had been leathery and practically inedible. The sweet potatoes were slightly over-seasoned, but they could have been worse. I considered the meal a relative win.

  Darcy cut into his chicken dutifully, thanked my mother for another well-prepared meal, and I squeezed his knee. He swallowed the chicken and washed it down with a swig of ice water. He was a good sport. He was used to eating at five-star restaurants and having meals expertly prepared by Mrs. Pratchett, and even I knew my mother’s cooking wasn’t stellar, but he politely sat through each Sunday meal and complimented my mother as if she were a Michelin-class chef. Sometimes I wished he wouldn’t do that, as it only encouraged her to make even more elaborate meals that we would have to choke down.

  She meant well, I had to keep reminding myself. She wanted to impress Will and Charlie, whom she knew were used to much fancier fare than she was equipped to prepare.

  Charlie glanced at Jane briefly before he cleared his throat. “Now that everyone is settled and…well, Jane and I have…well, we have an announcement.”

  Jane smiled demurely and turned to Chloe. “Sweetie, show everyone your new picture.”

  Chloe reached into her little purse, a brightly colored pink bag festooned with pictures of Hello Kitty, and took out a black and white picture that she proudly presented to Mom.

  On seeing it, Mom’s face lit up and her eyes filled with tears. “You’re pregnant? Oh, Jane, you’re pregnant!” Mom hugged Chloe tightly, then stood up to rush over and hug Jane and Charlie. “I’m going to be a grandmother again! Oh, this is wonderful news!”

  ~

  Jane moved to help Mom clean up dinner but she waved her off. �
��I’m fine. You relax.” Jane and I dutifully left, but instead of joining Charlie and Darcy in the living room with Hal, we moved outside so that we could enjoy the last few minutes of sunlight and mild summer weather with Chloe, who immediately began blowing the bubbles Jane had brought out with her. I watched amusedly as Misty began running around chasing the bubbles.

  “How is Will doing? He seems quieter than usual. Did his grandfather’s death really affect him that much?”

  Jane and I very rarely kept secrets from each other, and I sorely wanted to tell her about everything that had happened in the Hamptons, especially how Darcy and I had nearly broken up only to become secretly engaged.

  “It’s a very long story, but no, he wasn’t close to his grandfather, but because of his grandfather’s death, a lot of changes happened in his company.” Remembering Will’s edict about maintaining confidentiality, I gave a vague explanation about Will’s new role in the company.

  Jane tried to hide her concern. “Are you okay with all these changes? You and he have little time together as it is. With this new job, it seems your time together will be nonexistent.”

  “I know. But we’ll deal with it. We love each other too much to let this stop us from being together.”

  “Well, I do know you, Lizzy, and I know if you put your mind to something, you make sure it happens, so I have no doubt you will be able to weather any difficulties with Darcy.”

  “What about you? How have you been feeling?”

  “So far, so good. I have to do a glucose challenge test in a few more weeks and because I’m higher risk I have to get ultrasounds done regularly, but so far, everything seems okay.

  “I can’t believe you didn’t tell me you were pregnant sooner.”

  “Charlie and I wanted to wait until the first trimester was over, you know, especially since I had so many problems when I had Chloe.” Jane had had gestational diabetes and had gone into preterm labor when pregnant with Chloe, who was eventually born seven weeks premature.