I'll Be Seeing You (27 page)

"Well, I wish you would. I regret calling as soon as I did then. What could you possibly want from me, Emma?" I say, sitting back in my chair, spinning it around to face the window.

"Well, several things actually. First, I want us to meet for dinner. We have so much to talk about that we can't discuss over the phone," she suggests, pausing for my answer.

"Emma, there isn't anything you could possibly say to me that would make me want to meet you for a glass of water, let alone dinner. I don't know what you are up to, but I want no part of it, do you understand? You had your chance with me ten years ago. I have someone else in my life now, and there is certainly no room for you in it. I hope I have made myself perfectly clear." I sit up straight and turn my chair back around and see Joy and Krista standing in the doorway. I motion for Krista to bring Joy to me.

"Mattie, I've been trying to get an invitation to your ball, but the tickets are sold out. Would you get me one?"

When Joy reaches me, I take her hand and sit her on my lap. She wraps her arms around my neck and lays her head on my shoulder. This is what I need — my girl close to me. I look up and see Krista with tears in her eyes and her hands over her heart. She sighs deeply and leaves my office, shutting the door behind her.

"Emma, as you have been told, the tickets are sold out, that means there aren't anymore. Maybe you can sleep your way into an invite," I suggest, coldly.

"You are never going to forgive me for that, are you?"

"Nope," I say, popping the 'p'.

"That was a long time ago, Mattie," she snaps. Is she actually going to feign crying?

"I don't care, Emma. You fucked me when you fucked the board. Now, if there’s nothing else, I want you to quit calling me. Don't call my cell, don't call my office, and do not even try to enter my building. I promise you, if you don’t quit calling, I will get a restraining order against you for harassment. You certainly don't want that affecting your imperfect little reputation, would you? Not that anyone knows how you took down Johns Hopkins," I say, rubbing the salt into the wound.

"Matthew, that's cold, but let me warn you," she says in a low, threatening tone, "If you keep this up, I will do it again, and next time I will be successful."

My phone takes the brunt of my anger as I slam it down on my desk. I look at it to make sure I didn't break the screen and let out a breath when I didn't.

"Matthew?" I snap out of my irritation at the sound of her voice.

"Hey, baby. I'm sorry about that. My call with Emma didn’t go well. Come on, I'm starving," I say, lifting her from my lap and pulling her in for a hug. I can’t help but relax feeling her arms wrap around me as she runs her soothing hands up and down my back.

"Is everything all right? I mean with Emma?" she asks, resting her hands against my chest.

"She wants tickets to the ball," I tell her, closing my eyes when her hands roam around to my back then down across my glutes.

"What's going on there, baby?" I ask, kissing the top of her head. "You having naughty thoughts?"

"Yes," she says simply, squeezing me to her tighter. I smile and moan again.

"I'll take care of you tonight, all right?" I promise, putting my arm over her shoulder, guiding her toward the door. "Let's go eat. What about Laura and Jess? Are they joining us?"

"Yes, we’re meeting them there, and they’ll get a table for us," she replies.

"Krista, I'm taking my girl to lunch. I'll see you at two o'clock."

"Okay, Doctor. It was nice meeting you, Joy," Krista says, getting up and coming around from behind her desk. She places her arm around Joy's shoulder, giving it a friendly squeeze.

"Same here, Krista. Maybe we can meet for coffee soon?" she suggests. At that moment, I know the two of them will become friends. Joy doesn't ask just anyone to meet for coffee. She has a very close-knit group of friends, and they’re the only ones she trusts. I like it that two of my favorite women have bonded.

I smile at Krista over my shoulder as I direct Joy down the hall toward the elevator. Once inside, I corner her and give her the attention she needs, loving the feel of her soft, full lips on mine. When she parts her mouth for me, I barely touch her tongue with mine, waiting for her to take that control. It doesn't take long for her to press herself against me and kiss me with everything she has. Unfortunately, the elevator stops on the fourth floor, picking up three more people. Joy's lips will have to wait.

"They're here already," I say to Joy, escorting her through the front door of the diner and toward our table. She scoots over, allowing me to slide in beside her.

"Hi, Laura. Hi, Jessie," she greets our friends as she settles in to her seat.

"Hiya, Joy," Jessie responds, stuffing his mouth with a piece of bread.

"So, what's the verdict?" Laura asks about Joy’s test results.

"She's clean, and we'll be doing the surgery on Thursday," I answer, draping my arm over Joy's shoulder, giving her a little comforting squeeze.

"Do you want me there with you? I can take the day off, if you want," Laura volunteers. "I mean, Matthew is going to be busy getting ready for the surgery and all, so if you just need to have someone sitting there with you, I'm your girl."

Joy's face lights up. "I would like that, thank you. You know I hate the idea of the surgery anyway, but having you there will make it a lot easier," Joy confesses, reaching her hand out to her friend who takes it in hers.

"She’ll be spending the night at my house the night before and I'll take her to the clinic around eight o'clock. If you want to meet her there, Laura, I'll make sure they let you in.”

"All right — that’s great, I'll be there at eight," Laura agrees, giving Joy’s hand a gentle, reassuring squeeze.

"Okay, I'm starving. I want Julia's Avocado Burger," Joy announces, folding her hands on the table, waiting for everyone else to decide.

Once we finish lunch, I need to get back to the office, so I pay the check and let Joy know that I’ll be over after work.

Walking her to the corner, I unabashedly kiss her, and then whisper in her ear.

"I need you, baby. Bad."

Looking down at her face, her telling blush is present for everyone to see. She sweetly kisses my lips and nods with a beautiful smile.

"Tonight," she says with a gentle sigh.

"I'll see you later then." I watch as both Joy and Laura walk away, arm-in-arm.

~.~

After lunch, Laura and I go to my place to begin the daunting task of selecting ball gowns. On the walk back to my apartment, we talk about what style and color I want as well as cost.

"Joy, don’t be upset, but Matthew gave me his credit card to order your gown, shoes, bag, and anything else you'll need. He said that I’m to take care of you. I just wanted you to know that price isn’t an issue when we select your dress," she says, stopping me in my tracks.

"He … he what?" I stammer.

"Come on,” Laura says, tugging on my arm. “Jessie did the same for me. I have some sites for designer dresses. If you find one you like, then we’ll order it and have it fitted. Do you want a full skirt or an A-line? Do you want strapless or full sleeve? What color? Although Matthew did say he was partial to royal blue on you." Laura lists all the things we need to consider when selecting my gown, making my head spin. I've still not recovered from her saying Matthew gave her his credit card.

This is how we spend our afternoon. I listen to Laura describe countless gowns for me, and if I think it sounds pretty and she doesn't, she makes fake puking sounds.

"I think I like the one by Steve McQueen the best. Can we move on to shoes now?" I ask, exasperated and ready to call it a day. Exhaustion overwhelms me and we haven't even left my apartment. Laura starts laughing so hard, she gets up and walks around my apartment as she cackles.

"What?" I demand, becoming angrier that she won’t stop laughing at me.

"Sss … Ssst … Steve …" she says through her raucous laughter. She's no longer on her feet.

"Laura, are you seriously rolling on the floor laughing your ass off?" I giggle at my own joke but start to get a little pissed that she's still laughing at me and not sharing.

"What the hell, Laura? Will you please stop?"

"It's Alexander McQueen, Joy, not Steve McQueen, who was an actor by the way," she explains. It actually is kind of funny, and I give in to a giggle.

After a lengthy process, we decide on a form fitting, A-line dress that has a deep draping neckline with short, cap sleeves. The back is very low, ending just past mid-back. “Simple, yet elegant,” Laura says. “They don’t have it in the royal blue that Matthew requested, but they do have it in a blue-green that I think he will like just as well.”

"Whatever. Just order me the damn dress so we can get this over and done with. We need to get the shoe shopping out of the way before Thursday because, after that, I'll be out of commission until the ball."

"Okay," Laura says, letting another giggle slip out. "We'll go tomorrow. Right now, let's take your measurements, and I'll order the gown for you. I need to get going after that. I need to put in an appearance at the office. I think they're starting to wonder if I still work there. I've spent a lot of time with Jessie these past few weeks."

"Yeah, I've neglected my books, too. I need to get back to work on that, so Mr. White doesn't think I've abandoned him." I was going to tell her that Peter has been asking about her, but decide against it. She and Jessie are doing so well.

"Okay, I'll be by around two o'clock tomorrow. I know just the store so it won't take long."

After we take my measurements, Laura enters the information into the site. "There," she says. "I've just ordered your dress to be express shipped to the store. Once it arrives, I'll have Felix, one of our store tailors, come here to fit it for you."

"Laura, you're the best, you know that?" I pull her in for a hug. "You and Brian have always taken care of me, and I love you for it. Thank you."

"We love you, too, babe."

"All right, I need to get a couple of chapters done. I'll see you tomorrow afternoon," I say, walking her to the door, locking it behind her. Once I feed Conrad, I head down the hall toward my office to get to work … finally.

~.~

Sitting at Matthew’s dining table enjoying Chinese, he explains the surgery again. I don’t have the heart to tell him he’s gone over it a million times already, but if it makes him feel better, I will listen as many times as it takes.

"This will be a piece of cake, Joy. After I perform the Vitrectomy, the nurse will wheel you into recovery while you come out of anesthesia. You'll be monitored for several hours, and then I'll take you home and nurse you," he says, kissing my lips firmly but chastely.

"I hate this, Matthew. I want you to know that. This is it. No more after this, thank God."

"I know, baby. You’ll feel so much better in the end. Just think — no more fevers to put you in the hospital," he says, bending down to nuzzle my neck.

"Just don't screw up and poke my eye out." I can’t help but snicker when he bursts out laughing because that's exactly what he'll be doing during the surgery.

"I promise, baby. I only know one thing I want to poke right now." I laugh and shake my head at his bad pun.

"Did you arrange for Brian to come by your house and let Conrad out tomorrow?"

"Yep. He's going to come by at noon, then after work he'll come by, pick him up and bring him to me,” I say.

“Good. Now, let’s go to bed. I made you a promise today and I plan to honor it.”

~.~

"Joy? Joy, honey? Time to wake up now," I say, smoothing her brow, making sure the tape over her eye shield is secure. I smile as she tries to come out of the anesthesia.

"Hey, baby. How are you feeling, besides like shit?" I kiss her lips when she tries to smile, failing miserably. "Everything went fine, and Laura is right here. If you need anything, you just let her know. I've instructed Nurse Ratchet to take care of you and to get you anything you want, all right?" Pressing her cheek against mine, I feel her nod in understanding. Then she's out again.

"Okay, Laura, you might as well make yourself comfortable. She's going to be in and out like this for a couple of hours. If you need anything, let the nurse know, or call Jess or myself, all right?" I say, as my hand grazes over Joy’s hair. "Thanks for being here for her."

"I've been here for her since she was twelve, Matthew. This will never change," she pointed out, leaning forward over Joy's bed, making sure she's comfortable. I have to smile at the love she is giving to her friend.

"Well, thank you anyway. Call the nurse if you need anything, and I'll be back as soon as I write my report." After kissing Joy's warm lips, I take her temperature just to ease my mind. It's slightly elevated, but nothing to worry about. I kiss her again before leaving. Stopping at the door for one last look and Laura has Joy's hand in hers while she whispers something to her. I smile and turn to head toward my office.

After observing Joy for a few hours, I've determined it's best to have her spend the night and take her home tomorrow. She’s having difficulties staying awake, and with her temperature elevated, I want her observed a little longer.

"I'm going to keep her here overnight," I say to Laura and panic sets in on her face so I quickly calm her nerves. "She's fine. She's fine. I just don't want to take her home with her still so heavily sedated. It’s only a precaution. The anesthesia still has hold of her."

"Can I spend the night here with her, Matthew?" I watch as she continues to stroke Joy's forehead, and I don't have the heart to say no, especially since I had planned to stay with her myself.

"Absolutely. I'll have a cot brought in for you." Looking around the room, I determine there isn't room for a second cot for me, so I settle on my office.

It's going to be a long night.

~.~

Taking her home today, Laura walks ahead of me, opening the doors, so I can carry our patient inside. After carefully maneuvering the stairs, I enter my bedroom and gently lay my patient on the bed. Since she’s already dressed in her yoga pants and a long-sleeve T-shirt, I remove the blankets I wrapped around her at the hospital and tuck her in under the comforter. After changing into more comfortable clothes, I take her vitals.

Laura enters the room, waving a note in her hand. "It looks like Rebecca made a pot of chicken soup for dinner with homemade bread. Let me know when you get hungry, and I'll get it for you," Laura says, sitting on the edge of the bed, watching Joy.

"Thanks, I'm starving."

Checking Joy's temperature again for the millionth time, I check to see when her next dose of medication is due. Setting her prescriptions on the nightstand, I place my medical bag on the floor next to the bed, in case of an emergency. Standing back, I take a mental inventory of everything I think I’ll need. While Laura warms the soup for us, I get myself comfortable on the bed next to my girl.

"Hey there," I say quietly when she begins to wake.

“Hey,” she replies groggily.

"Once the last of the anesthesia is out of your system, you'll feel much better."

"I feel okay, I guess. I have a headache, though," she moans, moving up on the pillows to make herself more comfortable.