Chapter 66

ARTHUR

Doris called her old high school friend and planned an amazing weekend for us. On Saturday, we went blueberry picking at the farm part of her friend's estate. On Sunday, we went up in the hot air balloon.

"Wheeeee...wheeeee..." Mia kept saying over and over and over again. I didn't want to dampen her seven-year-old enthusiasm, but if she said it one more time, she would drive me crazy.

Doris started singing and taught Mia the words to "I Think I Can Fly", and "Up In The Air". I shot Doris a grateful look.

"We should have my birthday party here," Mia said.

"Birthday?” Doris asked, and I quickly jumped in because, of course, Doris should know when Mia's birthday was.

"Pumpkin, your birthday isn't for another three weeks."

"That's like forever from now. Can we celebrate it this weekend? I want to have a birthday party here. Can invite Betty and Jennifer? I want to invite my whole class."

Before I could say anything, Mia continued, "I want to have blueberry picking, and hot air balloons, and a Cheesecake Factory Restaurant party, and a horse, and I want to bring everybody to Italy. Can we have a party with all of those things and end up at the end in the villa in Italy?

Maybe I have spoiled my daughter since her last heart incident.

"Sweet girl, it is nice that you want to do all those things, but that's too much to pack into one day."

"Not if we start now," Mia said.

"How about this?” Doris said. "The day before your birthday we can go hot air ballooning and you can pick one friend to go with you. On the day of your birthday, we can have a bouncy house castle party. How does that sound?"

"Not as good as what I suggested, but still pretty good."

Doris and Mia picked another song and started singing. The rest of the day was magical. It always is when I'm with my wonderful girls.

Later that night, when Doris went back to her apartment, I didn't want her to go. I knew she was planning on having breakfast with Noah, and she wanted to get her clothing all set for the week, but those seemed like shallow excuses.

We both had busy days Monday and Tuesday, and I didn't get a chance to see her until she came to the penthouse Wednesday night. It felt like it had been weeks.

She came to bed wearing a little gray silk nightgown that reminded me of her nickname.

She got under the covers, and before I started with the sexy plans I had for her, I said, "Doris move in full-time."

She hesitated.

"Noah is living in your place. You're here a lot of the time anyway. Mia would love it. I would love it. Come on. What do I have to do to convince you?"

And just at that moment, Cathy texted me the text said, 'You were supposed to call me, but didn't.'

Of course, Doris saw the text, and her frown was huge.

"Do you just want me because I'm a substitute for Cathy?"

I smacked my forehead. This again?

"No. How many times do I have to say it? I want you for you."

I reached over and texted Cathy. 'It's not a good time.'

'You always say that,' she texted back.

'Well, it's true.' I texted her. 'But I will text or call when I get a moment, I promise.'

'Don't wait too long,' she texted.

Thursday morning, I woke up tired, and Doris had a migraine for the first time since I'd known her. No amount of coffee set us to rights.

It was the first day of the Mia's Heart lab and office's official opening, but neither Doris nor I feel up to going. I sent Nathan in our stead and didn't feel bad about it. I said I was going to delegate, and this was delegating.

Over the next few days, Nathan and I rallied a team. He continued to be in charge of the hiring, and he performed just as well as I thought he would.

The following Monday. He came into my office.

"Boss," Nathan said.

"Yeah?" I said, and I looked up from the spreadsheet I was studying.

"Doris's friend, Nina. Do you have any suggestions on how I can convince her to go out with me? I think she's stringing me along, but on the other hand, really wants to go out. I'm not sure what to do to tip the scales."

I looked at him. This was news to me.

"Why don't you ask Doris? I don't know Nina that well. Hell, sometimes I feel like I don't know Doris or women in general. I asked her to move in full-time and she still hasn't given me a concrete answer."

Nathan's eyebrows went up. "You asked her to move in full-time? That's serious."

“Yeah, I'm serious about her. She stood up for me against Andrea. She loves my daughter. She's funny..."

"And she has great friends," Nathan said.

I smiled. "Next thing, you'll be suggesting a double date." I teased him.

"Don't tempt me. That might be the only way I get Nina to go out with me."

DORIS

Nina and I walked through the main path in Central Park. Nina kept trying to go faster because she said it would be good for weight loss, and I kept trying to go slower because, let's be real, I'm not that great of shape.

"Seriously?" I asked her. "You still haven't gone out with him?"

"No, I figure the longer he tries to get me, the more he'll want me when he actually does get the first date."

"I think it's been long enough, Nina. Any longer and he's going to start looking elsewhere."

"I hope not."

"Any longer and you'll be 65; you'll be ready for your retirement and AARP."

She laughed.

"OK, OK, I'll call him."

"You should. Nathan planned the perfect date for you."

"I know, I know."

"I'm only bugging you because I want to hear all about it."

"Well, I'm not gonna tell you any sexual details until you tell me everything that happens in bed with you and Arthur."

"Never going to happen."

We laughed. "Besides," I said. "You're going to tell me exactly what happens with Nathan down to every little nitty-gritty detail, whether I want to know or not."

"Probably."

Saturday night, while I'm singing at The Strip, Nina is waitressing. She must've traded shifts with somebody because she's still not on regular duty on the weekends.

When I looked up between songs, she was talking to a handsome man who, at first glance, I thought was Nathan. He had that look. But on closer examination, I can see it's not. This man looks familiar, but I can't place it.

Their heads are very close together, and she looks infatuated.

By the time I got a break between sets, the man was gone.

"Who is that?" I asked Nina.

"That was Quinton. You won't believe it, but he's a forward for the Arctic Avalanches. Isn't that the team that Arthur bought?"

That's why he looked familiar. "Yes. That is the team. "You know, Quinton kind of looks like Nathan."

Nina laughed. "I guess I have a type."

"Young, handsome, rich, muscular, and somebody who likes you?"

"Yep. That would be the type."

"Waitress," somebody called from the other side of the room.

"Oops. Got to go," Nina said. “You sounded great, by the way, as always."

I watched her walk away. Somehow I thought Quinton would be a problem. I liked Nathan. And I thought his feelings for her were more than just a simple crush. I didn't know Quinton, but I had a feeling he was a player and not just on the ice.

For all of Nina's bluster and experience, I worried she was more vulnerable than she let on.

I had too much to worry about for more than a few minutes, but I wondered.

Next week I would start my gig at The Sultan Room, and I wouldn't be singing at The Strip for months.