Siblings (8 page)

Chapter 14

As soon as the nurse rolled the EKG machine out of his office, Dr. John Hazleton walked to door and slid the deadbolt. He went to his desk, picked up the EKG sheets and scanned them.

“Well, Lynn, everything looks good again this month.” He came around his desk. “Is there anything else I can do for you?”

“You can take my temperature with that beautiful seven inch thermometer of yours.”

“Never one to beat around the bush, are you, Lynn?”

“Any beating around the bush to be done around here is going to have to be done by you, cowboy.”

In less than a minute, they were both undressed and rolling around on the floor. Lynn was clearly in command. “Harder, cowboy. Ride me harder.”

John stepped up the pace until moments later they both climaxed in a burst of passion.

John, breathing heavily, kissed her tenderly before he rolled over on his back. They were quiet for a few minutes as they caught their breath; finally John said, “I have to admire you, Lynn. Most women, who have had a scare about their heart, would slow down their sexual activity, but you just mount up and ride off into the sunset.”

“But not just on any mount. I’ve chosen a bronco for my riding pleasure.”

John smiled. “You know something Lynn? Making love to you is the highlight of my life.”

“Mine too, John. I look forward to our time together.”

“Well, if you really feel that way, why don’t we step things up to the next level? I have an apartment here in town that we could use any time we want to. I owe you that at least. This making love on the floor is getting a little wearing on my bones, not to mention the carpet burn. We could have some wine and really relax our lovemaking. It would be so much more romantic.”

“Does Lorraine know about the apartment?”

“She knows that I have one, for when I work late and am too exhausted to drive the hour and a half home. She’s never asked me where it was. She just has the phone number in case of an emergency. I’ve only used it at night once or twice.”

“Oh, that sounds as if you’ve had occasion to use it during the daytime. Are you two-timing me?”

“Of course not. I just meant that I’ve had little occasion to use the place. I have a cleaning lady come in once every two weeks. She keeps the stuff in the refrigerator fresh, does some dusting. Anyway, Lorraine doesn’t seem to care what I do. We haven’t made love for at least six months. She blames it on her change of life medications, but I can see in her eyes that any spark that had once been there has long gone out. She seems happy in her own world, so I don’t press her about it.” He hesitated for a minute. “You know that I’d be lost without our time together. Please say you’ll do it or at least think about it.”

“I don’t know, John. It’s one thing to do it here in your office, but this sounds so surreptitious. Would I have to wear a disguise so nobody would recognize me?”

“Don’t be so melodramatic, Lynn. People come and go at apartments in the city every day. Don’t confuse this with meeting at cheap motels. That would be entirely different. I would never ask a classy lady like you to do something like that. Will you at least consider the idea?”

He didn’t wait for the answer. He cupped her face in his hands and gently kissed her lips. She moaned as she succumbed to his power. She was ready to make love again, but she caught herself and pulled slowly away from his embrace.

“Okay, I promise you that I will think about it. It does sound a lot nicer than this and we would have complete privacy. If we feel like it, we can make love all afternoon.”

“That’s all I ask.” He returned to his desk and picked up a key. “This key opens the front door and the door to the apartment. The address and apartment number are on that circular tag. Once you see the place I think you’re going to like the idea. Just avoid the first and third Monday of the month. That’s when Mrs. Madigan comes in to do the cleaning. The less she knows, the better.”

They kissed intermittently as they dressed. She went into the office bathroom to check herself out before she headed out the door of his office.

He called out after her, “Give me a call after you check it out. I’m anxious to know what you think of the place.”

***

Marilyn Meret Porter inherited her middle name from a piece of art created in 1936 by a Swiss painter and sculptor, Meret Oppenheim. As the story goes, her father was captivated by one of Oppenheim’s works of art called
Object of 1936.
The piece consisted of a fur covered cup, saucer, and spoon. Her parents had agreed that her mother would choose the baby’s first name, which was her maternal grandmother’s name. Her father was to select the middle name. The families on both sides were upset with his choice, but he was adamant on the issue. He had a picture of
Object of 1936
signed by Oppenheim
hanging in his office. Her mother finally capitulated and her daughter, their only child, was baptized the first week of November, 1958 as Marilyn Meret Porter.

Society tends to feel for the only child. They think that growing up with no siblings to play with or talk to, creates a selfish, lonely, and maladjusted human being. This would not be an apt description of Marilyn or her childhood. Growing up in the Porter household as an only child was a happy time for Marilyn. Her father did everything he could to spoil his “little angel.” Her parents felt she could do no wrong, but while they made sure she wanted for nothing, they were also of the school believing that if you truly want to raise a child that will turn out well you should spend twice as much time doing things with them and one-half as much money buying things for them.

With a stress free life, she excelled in school and on the track team; running cross-country; winning the Stapleton County Gold Ribbon as outstanding athlete three years in a row. She had a large circle of friends and seemed to be the natural leader of any group in which she participated.

Growing up, Marilyn traveled extensively with her family, touring the Mediterranean, the European mainland, and the Caribbean. She became fascinated by school systems in the countries they visited. She asked a lot of questions of the tour guides, who were more than happy to discuss the classrooms, teachers, materials, and hours of schooling in their native land with the curious American tourist. This curiosity eventually became an “aha” moment for Lynn, and in her senior year at high school she decided she wanted to teach.

Another advantage Marilyn had as an only child was not competing with siblings for her parent’s resources, especially for tuition at the best colleges. She chose Vanderbilt University, Peabody College of Education and Human Development. Acceptance into the school was immediate, given her exceptional grades and the touching letter she attached to her application that explained how she had observed educational systems during her world travels and was convinced there was a unfilled need for Special Needs Teachers. She did her undergraduate and graduate work at Peabody, concentrating on that discipline.

Upon receiving her Master’s Degree in Special Education, Marilyn began teaching at Marshall School for the Disabled, located five miles away from her family’s home in Wallington; a position she held until the birth of her first child, Richard.

In 2009, Marilyn complained of heart palpitations and Ron took her to see Dr. John Hazleton, the Chief Cardiologist at the Center. Hazleton diagnosed her as having a mild ventricular arrhythmia, or abnormal heart rhythm. A check of her family’s health records showed that ventricular fibrillation was prevalent in her family history, having caused the premature death of her grandmother and great-grandmother.

***

The affair between John and Marilyn had its roots going back several years. When Ron brought Marilyn into the office with palpitations, he immediately ran her through a battery of tests, all of which showed that she had a mild arrhythmia requiring medication to keep it under control. She was immediately put on a regimen of the anti-arrhythmia drug Mexiletine and within several days her sinus rhythm returned to normal.

During her follow-up exam several weeks later, Marilyn’s gown accidently fell to the floor. She was slow to draw it back on, allowing enough time for John to stop her hands and draw her close. He detected no resistance; in fact, when he looked into her eyes, he knew there would be none. He quickly locked the door and disrobed. He was already aroused and wasted no time entering her and consummating the act. Neither spoke; they just looked at each other with the realization that this would not be the last time they would make love.

At each subsequent appointment, scheduled once a month, they enjoyed each other’s bodies with no regard for right or wrong; just the moment and the sharing of another person’s desire for lovemaking.

The first time it happened, John justified his actions, which by anyone else’s standard would be very unprofessional behavior, by considering it as retribution against Ron Symington for taking advantage of his being away on a cruise to push through approval of a new practice that John had been planning to reject. It had happened a year earlier, but revenge has no statute of limitations. Screwing Ron’s wife, in his mind, seemed to be a fitting retribution.

John hadn’t counted on getting involved emotionally. He hadn’t counted on stirring up feelings that were being denied him by his wife, Lorraine. He hadn’t counted on throwing caution to the wind in his relationship with Marilyn; it just happened that way. Once he started down that road, he got deeper into the woods and there was no turning back.

The first time, passion ruled the moment and they made love on the floor in front of his desk, later switching to the carpet in a small alcove. The area in front of the desk was covered with a small Persian carpet which tended to be rough on the knees, while the area in the alcove had a softer pile carpet.

Dr. John Spencer Hazleton had a libido that required regular stroking. He was thankful he didn’t have to resort to taking “little blue pills,” although they were readily available should that time ever come. When lovemaking with his wife all but dried up, he seduced several of his patients before resorting to younger high-class escorts. Sure, Lynn was fifty-five, but what she lacked in firmness and perkiness, she more than made up for in energy. Marilyn never just laid there. She was a very active participant in every phase of their lovemaking. That excited him. After their first time together he cancelled his membership at the escort service and concentrated on being the best lover Marilyn Meret Symington ever had or could ever have. He convinced himself that he had accomplished that goal.

***

Two days later, Marilyn called John. “I was in the city yesterday and I stopped by your apartment to check it out. It’s very nice. I like the modern décor. Did you decorate the place yourself?”

“The owners did a major remodeling of the twelve units in the building, so everything was brand new when I moved in. It was the model apartment for the building, so there are a lot of upgrades. Do you really like it? I can change anything to make it cozier for you.”

“Like it? You’re kidding. I love it! I think that you’re right about our having a special day and time together. I’d like to suggest we meet there every Wednesday at noon? Wednesday is a slow day for you and I usually go shopping on Wednesdays. It would be perfect. What do you say?”

John thought for a minute. She was moving faster than he had expected, but who was he to look a gift horse in the mouth? “That sounds like a good idea, Lynn. I’ll stock the place with some champagne and goodies. I’ll buy a few negligees so that you’ll feel real sexy. I might even ask you to play ‘the naughty upstairs maid’ with me. I get turned on by that.”

“It’s difficult to imagine you getting any more turned on than you have been in your office. You’re just a love machine.”

A song lyric popped into his head, and he added, “And I don’t work for anybody but you
.
” She couldn’t see his face redden or the stirring he was having down below. “Maybe we better not discuss this on the phone. I know you said Wednesdays, but what are you doing today at noon?”

She laughed. “I’ll meet you at the apartment at noon. I’ll bring something short and sheer to wear. See you then, lover boy.”

“I’ll bring some champagne and caviar. Everything will be first class. I promise.”

Chapter 15

Peter was alone in his office, preparing for a 9:00 a.m. meeting with Dr. Marshall Wentworth, the new owner of Wallington Vein and Laser. Ron had suggested that Peter do the interview, because as the General Manager, he would be in the best position to handle any questions about the building and the services provided by the Center. He hoped that when the meeting was over, they would have a strong enough case to present to John Hazleton for his consideration as a new practice for the Center, thus breaking the gridlock that was holding up his year-end reporting.

Peter wasn’t as tall as the other doctors at the center, but he was very muscular, thanks to frequent visits to the gym. At age 51, 5’9” and 155 pounds, he was spot-on, according to his personal weight trainer. His face reflected a youthful persona. Peter was pragmatic in his approach to business and life. He was a student of Buddhism and had adopted some of its relaxation techniques, which would come in handy over the next few days if he was going to put together a solid case for the proposed new practice.

He stood up and walked to the door when his secretary escorted Dr. Wentworth to his office.

“Hello, I’m Dr. Mickelson.”

“Dr. Wentworth. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

“It’s my pleasure.” Peter smiled. “Let’s drop the doctor stuff. Please call me Peter.”

“Marsh.”

They shook hands and Peter led Marsh to a small alcove where he had set up a coffee service. Sitting back in his chair, he asked, “What made you choose our Center as a possible future location?”

“You just used the magic word, Peter: location, location, location. It’s everything in business. Being in a building with so many associated disciplines is invaluable. The Symington Medical Center has a spotless reputation. It is professionally run, no doubt a result of your management skills. I must admit that the minute I signed on the dotted line with Dr. Lassinger, I immediately had my business manager contact you. Let’s face it, Peter, your reputation for managing this Center is no secret.”

“It’s nice of you to say that. We have a very congruent collection of specialties here with a high degree of professional referring between them. I’ve been in the role of general manager for several years now and it’s been a very rewarding experience.”

“Getting down to business, Peter, you’ve had our proposal for two weeks now. You must have some questions.”

“I will admit that your proposal is intriguing. Dr. Lassinger’s work has always fascinated me. The man is a genius in his own right. How did you happen to take over his practice?”

“I was at a weekend symposium of vascular physicians when I met Rudolph for the first time and we became close. He related to me how he wanted to retire to work exclusively on new inventions, but was having difficulty finding just the right person to take over his practice. We skipped many of the symposium meetings that weekend, and by the time it was over, I agreed to purchase all the surgical instruments and electronic equipment he designed and his list of patients. He seemed relieved to have the sale of his practice completed. He agreed to train my technicians on the use of his unique instruments.”

“Are all of his inventions board certified?”

“All but one and that is currently under review.”

“Will you certify that there are no outstanding lawsuits against the legal entity being carried forward or any liens or encumbrances attached to the equipment you would be installing at our facility?”

“If you give me the paperwork, I’ll run it by my attorney. Dr. Lassinger already signed similar papers when we closed. He voluntarily agreed to be responsible for any future damages that might arise from the use of his instruments. The only condition is that everyone using them be properly trained in their use.”

“That’s an unusual warranty, considering that he sold you the equipment. Normally a person would use that as an opportunity to walk away from any future liability.”

“My attorney made the same observation. Neither of you know Dr. Rudolph Lassinger, the man. I spent an entire weekend with him. He is an extraordinary person. He is passionate about what he wants to do with his life. He believes so deeply in the instruments and the good they do, that he’s willing to personally indemnify them. He wants to free himself up to do more inventing. He claims to have dozens of ideas to make vascular operations less invasive and less costly. He needs the time to do this research. He has agreed to give me carte blanche to use all of his equipment currently in use. He’s also letting me use his facility until I find a place large enough to facilitate the merging of my practice with his. That was a real plus for me, because it’s given me the opportunity to work with his patients and reduce any fallout from the changeover. Rudolph also gave me the 'right of first refusal' for any new equipment that he might put up for sale in the future.”

“Marsh, that’s quite a story. This whole thing sounds serendipitous to me.”

“That’s a good word to describe it. To think that I haven’t been to one of these symposiums in over six years and I just happened to choose this one. It boggles the mind.”

Peter sat back in his chair and reflected on what he was going to say next. “We both agree that The Symington Medical Center would be an ideal location for Wallington Vein and Laser. We also agree that you’re willing to commence your move immediately.”

Marsh nodded his head and leaned forward in anticipation of what would follow.

“You must realize that the space we have available is at a premium. You said it yourself; location is a vital ingredient for a successful practice. A number of potential practices are vying for the last two spots, any of which would make outstanding additions to our mix.”

“Don’t sugar coat this for my benefit, Peter. What is it going to take for me to join the Symington Medical Center?”

“I’m glad you understand what I’m getting to, Marsh. A recommendation from me will go a long way with the New Business Committee. I like what you have to offer. Personally, I would like to see you join our group, but all I can do is pass on my recommendation.”

Peter hesitated. “Of course, if we juiced up your application with an offer of good faith, say, a prepayment of three months’ projected fees, that would be certain to get the committee’s attention. Money always talks.”

“I don’t have a problem with that as long as the funds will be held in escrow and applied to the first three months of our residency.”

“I can’t guarantee the escrow. It’s more likely that the money would end up in general funds and be used to offset the high cost of facilitating the special equipment you’ll be installing. We’ll have to add a new electric grid to be used exclusively by your practice and we’ll want to start construction before year’s end. Contractors will be looking for premium rates.”

“Without the escrow, I don’t know that I can make an offer. I’ll have to discuss that with my lawyer and accountant.”

“This type of arrangement is made all the time. Of course you’re free to do all the checking you need to, but I must caution you that time is of the essence. We’re anxious to get started on these additions before year’s end; actually my target is by the fifteenth of December.”

“I understand. Well, then, if you can give me a few moments to make a few calls, perhaps we can clear up this matter.”

“Take all the time you need.” He pointed to the phone on the cocktail table. “You can use this phone, if you like. I have a few things to check on down the hall. I’ll be back in ten minutes. Will that be enough time for you?”

“That should work out fine. Thank you.”

Peter returned to find a smiling Marshall Wentworth.

“Well, what did they say?”

“My attorney gave the plan his tentative approval and my accountant is good with the plan. It looks like we have an agreement.”

“I’m pleased to hear that, Marsh. I truly believe that the addition of Wallington Vein and Laser to the Center will be a win-win for all concerned.”

“What’s next?”

“Well, if you will fax me copies of your contracts with Dr. Lassinger, I’ll attach them to your application, add my recommendation, and present everything in person to Dr. Hazleton, the chairman of the New Business Committee. If everything goes well, I should have some idea of how he’s leaning before I leave the meeting. Have no concerns, Marsh, I’m one hundred percent behind your application.” Peter stopped for a minute to make a mental calculation. “As best I see it, I should have an answer for you by tomorrow afternoon.”

“That sounds good to me.” He stood up and extended his hand. “Peter, I thank you for your diligence on this. I believe that our joining your group will be a real win-win for everyone. You should receive the faxes no later than two this afternoon. I’ll look forward to your call.”