Before Mark leaves, he lets me know his parents will arrive at the airport around 8 pm tonight. Also, Wanda and Izzy are fixing another big meal for the occasion. I breathe a sigh of relief, knowing the food is taken care of, but it doesn’t calm my nerves. After the horrendous video call with his parents, I hope I don’t mess things up when they get here. I want to get on their good side and not be thrown out with the trash. As the last patient leaves in the afternoon, Brenda walks into my office. “Are you ready to meet your in-laws?”Is it time for that already? I collapse into my desk chair and lean my head back as I mumble, “I’ve had too many patients this afternoon. I don’t even know what time it is. I might have even forgotten what day of the week it is, but I hope so.” My last few words come out more of a question than an answer. My stomach twists. This is it. There is no turning back now.I close my eyes as my heart races. Will his parents like me? I never really
Casper has been on cloud nine the entire drive back to the house. His booster seat was in the back seat in the middle of Mark’s parents, and he had his grandparents’ complete attention. Before the car even pulled out of the airport’s parking lot, Casper began with his relentless questions, just like he had done with Mark on the way to the airport. To my surprise, Mark’s parents seemed to enjoy their grandson’s questions. Periodically, the older couple would turn the tables and would ask our son a question.When we get to the house and out of the car, Casper grabs his grandparents’ hand and pulls them towards the house. “Grandpa! Grandma! I want to show you my room!!”As we step out of the vehicle, Shane opens the front door and Casper doesn’t even give his grandparents a chance to stop as he continues to pull them into the house and towards his bedroom. Shane shakes his head as the three go by and chuckles, “Someone is happy to see his grandparents.”Mark and I nod, while my g
As I sit at the dining room table, I stare down at the old, battered phone. Did I even agree to call my parents? I don’t remember, but the next thing I know my phone is in front of me on the table.Gulp. My heartbeat quickens. I guess there is no turning back now. Ring…ring…ring…ring…My brother’s voice bellows from the phone. “KATIE!!! WHERE THE HELL ARE YOU AND WHY HAVEN’T YOU CALLED????”My mouth falls slightly open and instantly turns dry. My long-time fear of what my parents will say suddenly leaves me and is replaced with another one. Why is my brother answering my mom’s phone?“Where’s mom? Is something wrong?” My voice cracks slightly as I lean forward. I rub the palms of my hands along my pants as my foot bounces on the floor. Please, don’t let there be anything wrong. My mom suddenly snaps, “Give that back to me! How dare you take my phone!” She pauses for a second and then calmly says, “Hello.”Relief washes over me. I take a deep breath and my voice trembl
I can’t believe Katie’s parents were so cold. The need to protect her consumes me. She has said several times she was afraid to go back. Now I can see why. Not only was she afraid I wouldn’t remember, but she was also worried about what her parents would do. She has been like a zombie since the phone call. I have gotten her into bed, but she hasn’t stopped crying. Her tear-stained face and gut-wrenching sobs pierce right through my heart. How can her family be so cruel? I wrap my arms around her, hoping she will go to sleep soon. Maybe then, she can have some peace, if only for a short while. My mind replays the earlier conversation with her family, but I insert my alternate version of the events, including what I would have liked to say to them. None of which would be kind or respectful, but they weren’t kind to Katie.Her soft steady breathing sooths my aching heart. She is finally asleep. I need to talk to Shane.I slowly inch myself out of her tight hold and quietly
“But I want to see….” I tilt my head and give my mom my sad puppy dog eyes. She glances to her side at me, but she shakes her head and ignores me. “No. I told you before. We aren’t going to show you what Katie has picked out for her dress, and that is that. Plus, don’t you want to be surprised? Now, stop trying to get me to cave.” She presses her lips together and gives me a stern look. I used to fear those looks when I was younger, but as an adult, I simply know I won’t win the battle. When she sinks her feet in on something, she seldom changes her mind. Several books of tuxedos lay across the table in front of us. Each one is opened and a young lady flips through a few pages of the book on top and points out a few outfits. With a soft grin, she glances up at me and politely says, “This one will look good on you. It will complement your height and your build.” I stare down at it and sigh. I don’t know. All of them are starting to look the same to me. This is wh
Buzz…buzz…buzz…Ugh!! It can’t be time to get up yet. I reach over and grab Katie’s phone off the nightstand, quickly shutting off her alarm. Her warm body presses against my side while her arm and leg are draped over me and across my body. I look down at the gorgeous sight and still can’t believe I finally found her. I had tried not to keep her up too late, but I just couldn’t control myself and ravaged her for hours. My bite marks and hickeys litter her smooth skin. A sense of pride washes over me, along with a bit of possessiveness. With my marks on full display, everyone should be able to tell she is taken. I smile as she snuggles into my side as I slowly rub her back. “Katie, it is time to get up and go to work. Baby, you need to get up.”She tightens her arms around me and mumbles, “No. Not yet.”“Sorry, baby, but I’m afraid it is time. I just turned off your alarm.” I continued to rub her back as she slowly and reluctantly let’s go of me. As soon as she pulls awa
We continue to eat breakfast, but this time it is in silence. Shane and Katie both get up and take their dishes to the sink as I try to get Casper to eat instead of pouting. Unfortunately, I don’t have much success until Katie calls out from the kitchen. “Cass, if you don’t eat breakfast then you won’t be able to go to the hospital with daddy, and everyone else to have lunch with me.”His mouth flies open, and he instantly whines, “Nooo, mommy. I want to go to the hospital with daddy.”I quickly coax Casper to eat as I put a little food on his spoon and raise it up in front of him. “Here, Cass. Eat like mommy said or you will stay home with Uncle Frank over lunch.”His head whips around, and his eyes pop wide open. “No. I go to the hospital, too.” His lower lip quivers and pulls at my heart, but I have to stay strong. I don’t say anything and make a motion with my head toward his plate and the spoon that I’m holding. “Hmmmm.”He huffs and stares at the spoonful of food for
My heart still hammers against my chest, like it did when Brenda asked about my parents. Why did she have to ask me that question? I’m still not ready to tell her what happened. If I could, I would forget about it. Thankfully, Mark changed the topic fast, but I know she won’t let me get away without filling her in on all the horrible details. If I’m lucky, she will give me more time before she asks again.I leave Mark, Casper, and my friends and head back to work. Along the way, Dr. Morgan catches up to me and tentatively asks, “So, you are engaged?”I smile and excitedly reply, “Yes. Actually, our wedding is in ten days.”“Congratulations. Mark looks like a wonderful man.”My smile grows even wider as I proudly respond, “Yes, he is.”***I collapse into my chair in the safety of my office. This afternoon has been rough. Several of the children I had to examine were fighting me the whole way. For one little girl, I had to pull out all of my tricks before I could get her cal
With a glass of sparkling cider in one hand, I carefully wipe of the crumbs from the front of my floor length formal dark red dress. The paper napkins I’m using snag on a few of the embedded jewels along the front. My frustrations bubble up as I grind my teeth together. But this little setback can’t damper my mood. This is a big night for me. I’m finally accomplishing another one of my goals and dreams. Mark waves a couple of white linen napkins in the area as he rushes towards me. “Look what I have found. Stop trying to get the food off. I’ll get it done.” His playful smile widens as he gives me a wink. “In no time, I’ll have you back looking as beautiful as ever.” I sigh and let my shoulders drop. In his black tuxedo, he bends over in front of me and very carefully wipes all the little food particles off me without smearing it across the smooth satin fabric. I glance around the venue and notice a few people giving us some questioning looks, but no one has the courage
As he opens his mouth, my parents and brother casually walk into the house. My brother’s eyes pop wide open as he looks around, taking everything in and whispers, “Wow!”My heart nearly stops and my breath hitches. What are they doing here? They don’t have anything nice to say to me. Why would Mark bring them here? Why?My smile evaporates and morphs into a frown. I shuffle backwards as I slowly shake my head. My father gives me a stern look, which also holds his usual scrutinizing eye. The one which says I’m not good enough. My chest tightens. I don’t want them here. Casper runs towards us. “DADDY! YOU ARE HOME!!” He holds his little arms wide open and leaps into his father’s waiting arms. Normally, I would smile and join them in a group hug, but I can’t take my eyes off my family. The only thing that connects us is our DNA. Nothing else they have done would be something a normal family would do. My brother ignores Casper, stilling gawking at the inside of the house
I cradle my adorable daughter in my arms as I sway back and forth. Her long dark lashes flutter as she fights to stay awake. I softly hum a tune and gently pat her bottom. Everything seems so peaceful and perfect now, but it wasn’t months ago when she was born. When I had finally woken up, I nearly had a panic attack. My pregnant belly was gone, and my precious baby was nowhere to be seen. Luckily, Mark and Casper were there at my bedside, along with his parents, making sure I knew everything was alright. Our precious little baby was with the doctors, but Mark vowed to do whatever he needs to ensure our daughter’s health. I would be lying if I said his words calmed me down. Nothing he could say would ease my nerves, but it was his calm voice and the determination in his eyes which finally settled me down. Our daughter had to stay in the intensive care unit for a few days, but she was a fighter and could soon come home. Mark’s mother steps into the room and softly asks, “Is
KatieThe past few months have been a blur. If I didn’t have constant reminders on social media about it, I might forget all about Tiffany and the nightmare she caused. I stare down at my phone on the dining room table and at the latest social media post from a friend. I shake my head and sigh. When are they going to let this end? The post has a picture of Tiffany, which I’m sure she doesn’t know someone took, where she is picking up garbage in the company’s parking garage next to the building. Her previous high-end designer clothes are nowhere to be found, and she is wearing the company’s maintenance uniform. Below her picture is a caption wondering who the designer of the classy outfit is. I roll my eyes.Tiffany is working to pay off our doctor bills without complaining. Mark’s mother is still fuming at her, but she isn’t throwing it in Tiffany’s face. Everyone else should follow that example.Mark kisses the top of my head and rubs my shoulders. “How are you feeling thi
I sip on my champagne while I raise an eyebrow, hiding my smirk behind the glass. Tiffany holds her head high and walks up to a person she thinks is me, but it isn’t. He looks similar to me, but that is where the likeness ends. Her face contorts and her mouth opens slightly, but nothing comes out. I choke down a chuckle. The decoy stares at her and grunts, “What do you want? You look like you have something you want to say to me.”She continues to stare at him for a few moments before she shakes her head. “No. I thought you were someone else. I’ll go look for him elsewhere.”Her eyes quickly scan the area. I duck behind a few other guests as she looks in my direction. It isn’t time for her to see me yet. Her gaze locks on the back of another guy on the other side of the room, who she thinks is me. I choke down another laugh. It is only going to get worse from here on out. Before she reaches the guy, he turns around, and she instantly halts in her tracks. Her face conto
MarkI take a deep breath as I walk into the venue with my parents, wearing the same black tuxedo I did for the charity event. Katie and Casper are home, per my request. Tonight will probably be stressful and potentially traumatizing, which neither of them need. It is best to finish this off and give Katie the details later. If things go the way I’m thinking they will, Katie should see everything through social media. In addition, Casper is still healing from the last traumatic event, and he doesn’t need another one on top of it. I could the see fear in his eyes when we were talking about tonight’s event, and there is no way I was going to put him through that and make his mental health worse. My mother pats my arm. “Are you alright?”I nod. “Yeah.”My father glances to his side at me. “Are you ready for what needs to be done tonight?”A snort slips from me. “Yes. I’m more than ready. I’m hoping everything will go according to our plan, and Tiffany will learn her lesson.”
KatieI sit beside Casper’s bed and stare down at him. The last few days have been a whirlwind of people and emotions. Working with the doctor and our family and friends, Casper has finally calmed down and realizes Tiffany can’t hurt him here. He feels safe at home, but the fear isn’t gone or under control. At any minute, something random might spark his fear again and he will have another panic attack or a terrible nightmare. My rage continues to bubble under the surface, just waiting for something to trip me. When I get my hands on that woman, she will find out I’m not the naïve person she thinks I am. If I do it right, I’ll instill fear in her to the point she will never think of doing something like this again. Being a doctor has advantages people wouldn’t think about.Mark walks into Casper’s bedroom. “Is he asleep?”I nod. “Yeah. I want an update, but not in here.”I turn to the young lady standing in the doorway and motion for her to come in. “Keep an eye on our bab
I tiptoe out of Casper’s room and quietly shut the door behind me. A few staff wait anxiously in the hallway. I clear my throat and turn towards them. “Someone needs to stay with him at all times right now. He is having the same recurring nightmares, and only a soothing touch will ease his mind and let him move past the dream. Do any of you want to sit with him for a bit?”All of them quickly nod their heads. I glance back over my shoulder at the closed door. “I’ll let you decide who goes in right now. Everyone must be quiet and not wake him up. I just got him back to sleep. I don’t think he slept at all last couple of nights.”They nod and look at each other, silently debating on who should go in first. My heart aches and my mind swirls. Silently, I turn and head down the stairs. I’m not sure where I’m going, but I need to do something. When I reach the bottom of the stairs, one of the staff timidly calls out, “Please, use the wheelchair.”Without looking back, I nod and
MarkI storm through the building and into my office, not bothering to acknowledge anyone along the way. If I provide any reaction, it is a grunt or a snort. There is another important issue consuming my mind, and I must address it before I can handle anything else. Though I’ve had the weekend to calm down, nothing can cool my boiling anger simmering under my skin, waiting for the right moment to explode. Employees scurry out of my way while murmurs float through the air. But no one dares to say anything loud enough for me to hear. My scowl deepens as I storm around my desk and yank my chair out. “Jack!” Before his name leaves my mouth, he is in my office and right next to my desk with his tablet in hand. “Do you need me to do anything?”My eyes dart to him. “Yeah. I need you to contact everyone who has agreed previously to work with and help me. We are ramping up the next phase of my plan.”A sinister smirk bubbles up, and I don’t bother to hide it. If I could have handl