Yours Always (17 page)

We go back to Julia’s for a little bit of cake and mimosas, but that was all lagniappe for me.  I craved alone time with my husband, and I secretly wondered if he craved the same.  I got my answer when, after opening the last of our presents, he slings me over his shoulder and carries me to his truck.  No big or elaborate honeymoon for us.  A beautiful weekend in the French Quarter is our honeymoon, and we enjoy each and every second of it.  I’m riding a cloud of euphoria, and I pray that I never, ever come down.

Eighteen months pass since our wedding, and I’m six months away from taking my board exams.  My days are jumbled between classes and clinicals, and my nights are spent basking in the sweet bliss of newlywed life.  Fletcher assures me that he has little time to miss me because business is booming for Triceratops, and he spends nearly the entire day working from our home office.  Lizzy and Ben made the move about a year ago, and since then, we’ve seen them about once or twice a month, mostly when Ben makes trips in to check on things at the local restaurants. 

I’m currently doing my pediatrics rotation, and I think I’ve found my calling.  However, after a particularly taxing day, I need at least a five-minute breather.  The only empty room is a playroom that’s under renovation at the far end of the hall, so I sneak a juice pack from the fridge, and head down to my private sanctuary.  My back’s to the door and disappointment swells in my belly when I hear the hinges creak open. 
Please don’t be Darryl.  Please don’t be Darryl.
  I’m about a hair away from getting a restraining order against the supposedly harmless janitor with a great big crush on me. 

I’m not particularly fond or appreciative of the supposedly innocent joke started by some fellow students.  My classmates told the middle aged man that I was hot for men who carried big brooms, so he went from carrying a standard sized corn husk broom on his cart to a push broom that can clear an entire hallway in one pass.  It’s so outrageously large that he regularly knocks the heck out of people, walls, objects resting on shelves, etc. Though I’ve tried everything from a sensible conversation to flat out letting him know I’m happily married and have no interest in him, he still chases me around the hospital like a lovesick teenager.

A normal person would announce himself or herself, right?  Nothing.  The person standing in the doorway is doing just that, standing and staring at me.  “Darryl, please, for the love of God, they lied.  It was a joke, and not one bit of it is true.”

“Should I go?” a perplexed male voice calls.

I whip around to notice a tall blond man with beautiful blue eyes standing in the doorway.  He’s wearing a lab coat, and a pediatric stethoscope pokes out of his pocket.  His name tag says that he’s Dr. Robert Goodman, and I wish that the floor would swallow me up.

“I’m so sorry, sir,” I say, jumping to my feet.

He shakes his hand in a gesture that says I should stay where I am.  I slowly sit back in the tiny chair, and I’m suddenly very aware of how silly I must look sucking on a juice box while sitting in a chair three sizes too small for me.  I’m not as self-conscious when Dr. Goodman pulls a chair next to mine and completely fails to sit down because of the length of his legs.  “I guess I’ll just take the bean bag over there,” he says, sinking deeply into the bright orange ball.

“Should I…”

“Should you what?  Should you introduce yourself?  Absolutely.”

I smile.  “I’m Savannah Reilly, and I’m a nursing student doing my peds rotation.”

“Nice to meet you, Savannah.  Beautiful name, by the way.  I’m Robert Goodman, and I’m an ER doc, but I’ve decided to change my specialty to pediatrics.”

“That’s quite a big change.”

“It is, but it’s long overdue.  I was an Army doctor for several years, so combine that with the few years I’ve worked in the ER, and I’m burned out.  I think taking care of kids will be a nice change of pace.”

“I’m sure you’ve seen your fair share of tragedy.”

“That’s an understatement,” he says.  “So, you found the only quiet spot in the hospital.  I must admit, I was a little sad when I realized I’d have to share, but you’re alright, Savannah.  I’ll happily share my secret spot with you.”

“Your secret spot, eh?  Well, I’ll have you know this has been my secret spot for three weeks now.”

“Hate to burst your bubble, but it’s been mine for six weeks.  Guess we’ve been just missing each other for quite some time.”

I laugh.  “I guess so.  Thanks for agreeing to share.”

“Likewise,” he says, stretching his arms high over his head.  “I’m working a double, so I need to catch a few z’s.  They will give me a room in the lounge if I request it, but it’s right in the middle of the busiest part of the hospital.  There’s no way to get rest in there.”

“How do you get rest in here?” I ask.

He smiles as he wriggles himself from the beanbag chair then he gestures to me with his index finger.  I join him at the back of the room where he moves a section of chairs away from the wall.  Tucked behind the chairs are a pillow, sheet, and blanket.  He opens the sheet and lays it on the floor behind the chairs, tosses down the pillow, removes his lab coat and shoes, then curls himself into the fetal position as he covers himself with the blanket. 

“I’d be much obliged if you’d shut off the lights when you leave,” he mentions.

“Of course, Doctor.”

“Hey, if we share a secret hiding spot, we are on a first name basis, Savannah.”

I smile.  “Okay, Robert.  Rest well.”

“Thanks,” he says, closing his eyes and moving his head around until he finds the sweet spot on his pillow.  I shut off the lights and gently close the door behind me. 

“How was your day?” Fletcher asks.  He’s still hard at work in front of the computer, so I drape my arms around his neck while kissing the top of his head.

“Busy.  Looks like your day was pretty much the same.”

“Yeah, but I’m about to call it quits for tonight.”

“Okay, I’m going to jump in the shower.  Have you had dinner?” I ask.

“No, but I picked up some stuff today.”

“You did?  Thank you so much.  That deserves a kiss,” I say, leaning forward.  Instead of kissing me, he pulls me into his lap.

“If you’re going to kiss me, you’re going to do it right,” he teases.  I happily oblige by giving him a deep, sensual kiss.

“Wow,” he says, blowing out a breath.  I smile at his reaction.  “So how was your day?”

“You already asked that, silly,” I say, playfully pushing against his chest.

“Still leaning towards pediatrics?”

“Yep, sure am,” I say, snuggling against him.  “I fall more and more in love with the job each day.”

“Not only are you going to be the best nurse they’ve ever had, but I’m certain you’ll be the prettiest nurse they’ve ever had, too.  I have to admit, I’m kind of lucky you’re dealing with kids.  Zero competition.”

I laugh.  “As if you’d have competition regardless.  You are all the man I’ll ever want or need, Fletcher Reilly.  End of story.”

“I love you,” he says, softly stroking my cheek with his finger.

“I love you, too.”  I hug him tightly.  “Now, I’m going to get in the shower,” I whisper in his ear.

“Is that an invitation for me to join you?” he asks.

“Absolutely.”

“I’ll be there in just a second.  Let me finish up.”

“Okay, babe.  Hey, Molly’s been burning up my text messaging with requests to go to the water park.  Do you want to take her this weekend?”

He sighs.  “This weekend is not good for me.  I have some reports that need to be finished by Monday, and I’m completely swamped.  Don’t let that stop you from going though.  Maybe Julia can join you?”

“Julia.  Your sister, Julia?  At a water park?  Did you seriously just say that?”

Fletcher laughs.  “True.”

“We’ll just wait until next weekend.”

“No, go this weekend.  Have fun.”

“Are you sure?”

“Positive.”

I shrug my shoulders.  “I’ll let little Miss Molly know.”  I send the text then hop into the shower. 

My thoughts immediately go to Fletcher. 
He sure has been missing out on a lot lately.  I’m glad that Ben’s business is doing so well, but Fletcher’s always on the computer or shuffling through paperwork.  Weekdays aren’t so bad since I’m in school all day and some nights, but I wish our weekends could be spent doing something besides hanging out at the house while Fletcher spends hours in the office.  The next time Ben comes to town, I’m having a talk with him.  I wonder if Fletcher has bothered to mention to him how time consuming the work is?  Knowing Fletcher, no.  He won’t say anything because even though he’s drawing a salary, Ben’s still his best friend.  If Fletcher’s not going to mention it, I surely will.

“You look in deep thought,” Fletcher says, joining me in the steam-filled shower.

“I guess I was.  Sorry.”

“Whatcha thinking about?”

“Us, and the fact that we’re both so busy that we never go out anymore.”

“Staying in has its benefits.”  He pulls me closer and eagerly runs his hands down the length of my body.

“That’s very true,” I whisper, my body teeming with want.  Fletcher is an amazing lover, and there’s a certain way he touches me that sends all conscious thought out the window.  It incites a deep primal urge for me to, for lack of a better phrase, screw his brains out.  He’s awakened so much passion in me, so much desire, that I’ll do damn near anything to have him.  The thing is, he knows it and regularly takes full advantage of it.

Two can play that game.  I “accidentally” drop the bath sponge I’m holding, and as I’m on my way back up from retrieving it, his arm encircles my waist.  He pulls me tightly against his chest, so that his lips fall beside my ear.  “Do you want me?” 

“You know I do.”  His strong hand grips my thigh, and I’m instantly lost in the throes of his skillful lovemaking. 

“Tell me you love me,” he whispers while thrusting deeply.

“I love you,” I say in between gasps.  “Always.”

His lips trail kisses down my neck, and he lightly sinks his teeth into my shoulder.  I can’t fight it anymore, and for the next few seconds I relish the release of intense pleasure that has been building deep inside me.  Fletcher holds me tightly, and I’m grateful because my legs feel as though they’ll buckle under my weight.

He turns me to face him.  “You are the best thing to ever happen to me.  Don’t ever doubt my love for you, okay?”

“I won’t, baby.  I feel the same about you.  I love you more than you’ll ever know.  My life is with you.”

He embraces me tightly, hugging me until the water runs cold and we’re sent scrambling for the warmth of our bed.  Even then, he wraps his arms around me until sleep finds the two of us.

I pick up Molly early the next morning in the hopes we’ll beat some of the weekend’s interstate traffic.  An accident ruins that wish by putting us in gridlock for about an hour.  We finally make it to the water park, and though we’re having fun, it just isn’t the same without Fletcher.  Molly feels it, too.

“Aunt Savannah, I know I begged you to take me today, so please don’t get mad when I say this, but do you think we can go shopping or something?  It’s so crowded here, and it’s taking forever to slide…”

“Say no more.  Let’s get changed.”

She smiles broadly.  The first place I bring her is the mall where we window shop for hours.  I notice her look longingly into the Victoria’s Secret store. 

“Do you want to go in?” I ask.

She looks down at her chest.  “Do you think I’ll ever get boobies?”

I make sure I don’t laugh or smile, even though I find her question amusing.

“It looks to me like you have boobies, Molly.  Plus, you’re still young.  You know that they’ll keep growing, right?”

“I’m thirteen and a half, and I’m stuck in an A.”

“And your friends?” I ask, remembering those days vividly.

“Bs and Cs, at least.”

“Come with me,” I say, taking her hand while saying a quick prayer that Julia doesn’t kill me for this.  I divulge the secret of padded bras to Molly, and after she tries on a couple, she can’t erase the smile from her face.  I pull the tag off so she can wear the new bra, and take it and two more bras of a similar style to the register.  I’m accepting the receipt from the cashier when Molly joins me at the checkout.  I have to bite my lip to keep from laughing at her posture.  She sure is proud of her new physique.

“Molls,” I whisper,  “Sweetie, just try to be natural.  Let the padding do the work for you.”

“Oh, okay,” she says, exhaling the pent up breath she’s been holding.  As we walk through the mall, I catch her smiling at her reflection every time we pass a reflective surface.  If I’d had known that a little bit of foam would’ve made her so happy, I’d have taking her shopping long ago.

As we sit in the food court drinking fresh-squeezed lemonade, Molly thanks me again for helping her with her problem.  “I’m glad I could help.  Mine didn’t come in until I was about fifteen.  I know your pain.”

“Yeah, they say the teen years are rough, but they don’t do much to prepare you for them.”  This time I can’t fight the smile. 

“Are there other issues that you’re having?” I ask.

“Are you asking if I got my period?”

“Uh, no, not really.  Not unless you have unanswered questions.”

“My mom loves me, Aunt Savannah.  I know she does, but let’s just say she’s not the best at forging open and honest conversations when it comes to things like sex and such.”