Lovers and Reprisals (Lovers Series) (13 page)

Caleb stared at this man.  The nurses had told him that his sister was recovering in the Delors family wing.  He looked at his white on white clothes, and that was all he needed to see.  Caleb had not been away from this life long enough to forget about the New Year’s Day White Ball.  Anybody, who was anybody attended--and he was in the presence of one of the host.  Caleb glared at him when he said...

“My parents are talking to the doctors at the Samaritan Hospital as we speak...and before this day is over, we plan to have my sister transferred there--where she should have been taken in the first place.”

“But...you can’t.”   Lucien protested.  He didn’t take time to weigh the consequences when he continued...

“Your sister is fresh out of surgery and her condition is still in the fragile stages.  Look...”  his eyebrows rose, while he gestured at the nurse...

“If you don’t believe me...I’ll send the nurse to get the doctor.”

Lucien was prepared to say whatever needed to be said on Ona’s behalf.  His body hummed with the knowledge of her name.  He’d prepared himself to say more when they were joined by Dr. Stone and another doctor he’d not been introduced to yet.

“Mr. Zelle...my name is Dr. Stone, and this is my associate...Dr. Norma.  We took part in a series of surgeries that were performed to save your sisters life and currently, we’ve taken the lead and are managing her care.”

Dr. Norma frowned, and he spoke with a Dutch accent.

“Sir...we just concluded a detailed and frank telephone conference with the medical team at the Samaritan Hospital.  After our conversation, it was decided that Miss Zelle’s condition is to fragile to attempt a transfer...and at this time, considering her medical interest; it would be best if she remains here...until further notice.”

Caleb’s face was a wave of emotions.  He wanted to say something that would resolve this.  He wanted to lift his sister in his arms, taking her away from these snobbish people. 

Dr. Norma was new to the country and he wasn’t familiar with this particular group of Christians.  He didn’t understand their religious stipulations.  His ignorance was amplified when he made a point that he thought would solve the problem.

“Sir...this is a private hospital...but your sister is here, as a guest of the Delors family.  Our doors are open to you and if your family would like to come and visit her...Lincoln Medical will do everything possible to make Ona Zelle’s stay with us a positive one.”

Caleb’s face expressed his disapproval.  He stared at the doctor, then at Lucien.  He’d been silent after he learned that all attempts to transfer Ona had failed.  But this bit of news didn’t gall him as much as this doctor’s ignorance.  But before he could respond, Lucien disarmed the ticking time-bomb.

“Dr. Norma...perhaps we can set up a camera with a satellite feed.  In this way, Ona’s Samaritan doctors can see her progress with their own eyes.”

Caleb wanted to protest because this would be an invasion of his sisters privacy, then he caught himself.  He understood that this gesture was an olive branch, intended to kill two birds with one stone.  The camera would be for the Samaritan doctors, and his parents.  In this way, even though they couldn’t visit their daughter, at least they’d be able to see her healing process.

Dr. Stone nodded, saying...

“I think we can do that.  We could turn it on, whenever we come in to do our rounds, then turn it off, giving Ona her privacy.”

When no one said a word, Dr. Stone said...

“I’ll see to it.”

They stood in the room, and an awkward silence buzzed over head.  Finally, the nurse broke the mood.

“Excuse me...but I need to prepare my patient for her massage therapy.”

Caleb looked at the woman, as if she’d sprouted horns.  She pursed her lips, when she said...

“It helps improve circulation.”

He still wasn’t getting it.  Ona had three cast on, and the only limb that didn’t have a cast, was tethered to an intravenous catheter administering a morphine drip.  What was there to massage?

Lucien said...

“We can continue this conversation in the waiting area.”

They filed out of the room, and the nurse closed the door once they were on the other side.

Lucien said...

“I’m sorry if this situation is an inconvenience--and believe me, I do understand.”

“I just want whatever is best for Ona.”

“As do I.”  Lucien replied.

When they were standing in the outer entrance to the waiting area, Dr. Stone spoke to Caleb...

“Before you leave...stop by the nurses station, and they’ll give you a direct number to the Delors Wing.  Tell your parents that their calls are welcomed.”

Caleb motioned with his head, then both doctors excused themselves.  Lucien held out his hand, gesturing for Caleb to enter the waiting room and immediately, the rooms amenities overtook his notice.  The placed looked like a luxury suite, and he tried to behave as if he wasn’t impressed by the rooms opulence.

Lucien said...

“May I offer you something to drink?”

Caleb’s eyes followed him, when he stopped in front of a counter.  Shooshing sounds were followed by a rise of pressurized steam. 

Caleb said...

“No thank you.  I’m fine.”

He watched Lucien’s refined movements, and he spotted all the signs that would say this man lived a privileged life.    In spite of the way he walked...and the way he spoke, pronouncing every syllable, using perfect diction; it was the white that grated him.  Lucien’s tailored white on white tuxedo.  There was a word for this man, and Caleb knew it.            Blue-blood.  He’d been born into his way of life.  Caleb sat on the edge of one of the chairs, and he wanted to find something wrong with his seat.  He couldn’t find that place of comfort; not mentally, or physically.  His back stiffened, but he couldn’t blame this rigidity on the chair covered with lush Italian leather.   

Lucien had crossed the room, taking a seat next to him, when he heard Caleb saying...

“You can leave you know.  You don’t need to remain here...given that someone from her family is here now.”

Lucien had been startled by his remark.  His hand shook, spilling a few drips of the foamed liquid.  His arm extended pass the range of his leg, and one drop narrowly missed the cuff of his pants.  The remark scrolled in his brain.  He was being asked to leave.  But...why?

Lucien said...

“If you don’t mind...I’d like to stay.  I feel as if I won’t rest well, until I know that she’ll fully recover.”

“Are you responsible for my sister’s condition?”

Lucien’s brow rose in confusion...

“No.  I...I was there...but I am not responsible for her condition.”

“Good.”  Caleb calmly stated, then he said...”Then there should be no need for concern.  You can rest easy...knowing that you didn’t cause my sister’s injuries...and you can sleep well, knowing that someone from her family is here, to be the first face that she sees as soon as she wakes from her sleep.” 

Caleb’s face was a mask of impassivity.   His voice held little emotion and his sternness was as unyielding as his demand.

“You can go Mr. Delors.  Please leave.  You aren’t a doctor and frankly...if it weren’t for the doctor’s I would carry my sister out of here.”

***********

Chapter 8

Two weeks later

Revisiting the past--or mapping a promising future

There wasn’t a man or woman alive who didn’t have a regret.  Morpheus knew this firsthand, because Mikita was his regret.  She’d agreed to meet him at one of his favorite restaurants and the indoor garden view was spectacular, given that there was a virtual blizzard outside.  The Canadian winds and some other blasted jet stream had dipped lower than the meteorologist had forecasted.  For the past few days, a snowstorm roared across the eastern coastline, blanketing the Atlantic region with snow in Virginia and as far north as Maine.  The aroma of African violets filled the air, but his thoughts were on the beautiful brown woman seated across from him.  From the moment she’d arrived, the fragrant aroma of her perfume eclipsed every other floral scent.  He was a man in love and beyond hope.  

Mikita stabbed her sea bass with a fork, then she nudged her plate towards the centerpiece.  The food wasn’t bad; for her, it was the company.  For the past seven years, she’d lived an extremely comfortable life in Colorado, away from Morpheus.  Now, here she was, seven years later, considering her ex’s suggestion to move back East, to Manhattan no less.  She still owned her condo here and over the years, the place had been used by friends or her family, whenever they visited the city. 

“Mikita...”  Morpheus was charming her.  “When you moved away, taking my son with you...I didn’t get upset.”

“That’s gracious of you.  Given that I caught you in bed with my cousin.”
“Yes...that’s right.  But I never relinquished my parental rights.  He was my son, and my impetuous behavior didn’t change the fact that I was still his father.  I had legal rights.  I could have put my foot down, demanding that you bring my son back--but I didn’t.  I didn’t because--I deserved everything that came to me.”

“Morpheus...you are a man, haunted by your past.  So, let’s stop beating around the bush.  You wanted Bolden to accept a job offer, and if I move back here...my presence in the state would sweeten that deal.”

Morpheus smiled when he said...

“Yes...something like that.”

Nothing was that simple when it came to Morpheus.  Irritated by his conceitedness, she brandished her anger using her words...

“Something like that?  Not something like that....me moving back here is exactly what you want to happen.”

He put effort in his laugh, and Mikita felt her heart quicken.  Fuck--she still loved him, and she didn’t know what to do with those feelings.  She sighed heavily, when she said...

“I guess by now, you already know that Bolden accepted that job.”

“What makes you think that I already know this...?”
“Morpheus...please”  She stabbed his heart with her disgruntled impression of him.

“I’ve come to my senses Morpheus.  You mustn’t forget...once upon a time...I lived with you.  It was a long time ago...but, after attending your New Year’s Day party...I saw firsthand, that you haven’t changed.”

“Speaking of that party...”  the smile on his face loss some of its charm when he said...”You were with Cyrus.  Are you dating him?”

This was typical Morpheus and when she first received his call, she couldn’t believe how alluring his voice had sounded.  He’d told her that he had changed.  He had said that the time had come to put an end to old conflicts.  Fool that she’d been; Mikita had trusted him. 

This time, when she looked at him, she was seeing him in the past; the way he’d appeared when she’d left with their son, taking only the clothes on their backs.

She said...

“You ever think about living a normal life?”

“Mikita...”  Morpheus pressed harder.  “Answer me...I need to know.  Are you dating Cyrus?”

“Did it ever occur to you that, I’m happy living my life away from you.”

“Mikita...”  His eyes held meaning, when he said... “Why won’t you answer me?  I don’t want to fight with you over this.  I just want to know.  I....Well, I’m sure you know how I feel when it comes to you.  Time may have passed--but my feelings remain the same”

Like a Jack-in-the-box, she surprised him when she said...

“So...you love me.  What about our son?  Do you love him?”

“Of course I do.  What would make you insinuate that I don’t love my own son.”

Her eyes narrowed, then she said...

“Eliza...that’s my reason.  Of all people....you stuck our son with Eliza Pendleton.  Really, Morpheus!”

Morpheus laughed.  Was Eliza to blame for the bug up her ass?  Sure she was; and more than likely Mikita had heard an earful concerning the rumors.  Whenever Morpheus took an interest in a woman, in one way or another, the rumor mills would say that the relationship had been a sexual one; and based on her reaction to Eliza, it would appear that Mikita believed the rumors.  He looked away to prevent her from seeing the humor in his eyes because Eliza wasn’t his type and he’d never made a move on her.  Morpheus defended himself when he said....

“Mikita...you’re overreacting.  I’ve talked to our son, and Bolden really likes Eliza.  Besides, until he learns the lay of the land...Eliza will see to it that he doesn’t cross the wrong people.”

“When you asked for my help, you never said anything about Eliza.  You told me that he’d be working for the governor.  Then you asked me to move back to New York; leading me to believe that Bolden would be working for the governor of New York.  Then I find out from Bolden that he wouldn’t be working in New York.  He enlightened me when he said that he’d be in Wyoming, working for Governor Wilcox.  But even that isn’t true...is it.”

Mikita was on a roll, and he’d noticed that her inflection had not been a question.  So he responded saying...