Chapter 79

DORIS

Mia was taking an after-lunch nap. She looked adorable and peaceful. Her color had gone back to normal.

Cathy had called and insisted she would stop by later in the evening. I had decided I would leave before she got here. There was no point in me sticking around.

Unfortunately, she arrived two hours earlier than expected, just when I was preparing to leave.

“Hello, everyone,” Cathy said in an overly cheery voice. She swept into the room like she owned it.

The first thing I noticed was she was wearing an extremely sexy black and silver dress that showed a lot of cleavage.

“Auntie!” Mia said, looking extremely happy to see Cathy.

“Beautiful darling,” Cathy said, fawning over Mia. “I brought you some gifts.”

Cathy opened a big pink shopping bag.

"First, my darling Mia, for my brave girl..." Cathy took out a little purple stuffed bear holding a red heart. The heart read, 'My Good Girl' in white letters on the front.

I didn’t like that Cathy gave Mia a heart with the words my good girl.

Mia hugged the stuffed animal to her chest.

Secondly, because you are the best…” Cathy said, and took out an art set of colored pencils, more appropriate for a professional artist than an eight-year-old girl.

Oh,” Mia said.

“And lastly, because I know you’re so talented… drum roll, please."

Arthur obligingly made a drumroll sound by slapping his hands on his thighs, and it took all my strength not to shoot him a nasty look.

“What is it? What is it!” Mia shouted

“Ta-da!”

Cathy handed Mia a big multicolored box. Mia turned it over in her hands, looking at it. "It’s a karaoke machine!”

"Somebody told me you’re a great singer already."

This made me wonder if Arthur had been talking to Cathy more than I knew. How did Cathy know that?

Mia jumped out of bed to hug Cathy.

“I love it! I love it! It’s the perfect gift. These are all perfect gifts. You’re the best!”

I couldn’t even begrudge Cathy. Mia was right. It was the perfect gift.

Mia tore into the box with the enthusiasm only an elementary school child who has been stuck in a hospital room for ages could muster.

"Look! It’s got its own microphone," Mia said. “La, la, la. I am the greatest singer in the room, except for Mommy and Auntie.”

“That you are, pumpkin."

Mia started dancing around the room and humming "Let It Go", the theme song from the movie Frozen.

"I guess you’re doing better," the old doctor with the big glasses said from the door.

He looked at Mia and then pointed to the bed. “Hop up there, let me listen to your chest for a moment, and if everything sounds OK. I’ll sign your release papers.”

We were all silent as the doctor listened to Mia’s chest.

The doctor took the stethoscope away from her and hung it around his neck. He looked at Arthur and then at me.

“Looks good. I’ll send someone up with a wheelchair to bring her to the front door."

“What? I don’t need a wheelchair! It was my heart, not my legs. I can walk."

“Standard procedure, kid."

Mia looked at me. “What does that mean?”

“That means you get a wheelchair ride."

Cathy saddled up to Arthur and rubbed her breasts against his arm. She pushed up onto her tiptoes so her mouth was closer to his ear.

“Let’s all go to dinner tomorrow to celebrate Mia's release from the hospital."

I shook my head. Until now, Cathy hadn’t done anything wrong. But seeing her rub up against Arthur while she was wearing that skimpy dress made my blood boil.

“Let me think about it,” Arthur said. “Mia needs her rest.”

She does, I thought. Like for another eight and a half months while we don’t have to see you.

“She what! The hussy,” Nina said just as the waitress put our burgers on the table.

I looked at the waitress. My look was a silent apology for Nina’s language. The waitress just shrugged.

“I can’t believe she did that.”

“I know,” I said. “And it hurt me more than I’d like to admit, but other than wearing a sexy dress that was cut down to her navel and rubbing up against Arthur right in front of me, she didn’t do anything wrong. She was extremely nice to Mia, and Mia loved her gifts.

“She didn’t explain why she was supposed to live in Hawaii and she was suddenly in New York City,” Nina said.

“True, but Mia didn’t notice. The more important thing is how insecure it made me feel.”

“It can’t have made you feel good, that’s for sure.”

“Then why did she do it?”

“Arthur is handsome, kind, and most importantly, rich. If she’s desperate, that’s the person she’d make a play for. He’s already dad to her first child and about to be dad to her second. He’s the logical choice.”

Nina paused to take a bite of her juicy burger. “He’s also known as the hottest bachelor in New York City and just bought a hockey team that’s on a winning streak.”

“You’re not making me feel any better.”

“Sorry.”

I dipped my french fries and ketchup and moaned at how good they were.

“Speaking of hockey teams. Quinton asked me out.”

I almost choked on my french fry. “What! How did he even get your number?”

“I am totally Google-able, and the multi-million dollar deal I sold on Central Park did get some press.”

“Hhhm.” With all that had been going on with Mia, I had forgotten that Nina had made that great sale.

“Besides, he didn’t ask me out by getting my phone number.”

“So, how did he ask you out?”

“You won’t believe this. He sent a singing telegram to Heritage Properties. I was in my office, and this guy came in wearing a silly costume. It was a big mountain with snow on top and rocks at the bottom."

I look at her quizzically.

"Arctic Avalanches, get it?"

I laughed.

The singing telegram actor sang the song "Santa Baby", except he changed the lyrics to 'please go out with me, baby'."

I chuckled.

"Then the actor handed me a nice, handwritten note from Quinton asking me out on a date, promising me he would take me on a helicopter ride to his heart."

"Well, that’s original, and I guess it’s kind of romantic, but what about Nathan?"

“Funny that you mention that.” Nina blushed, and then she turned even redder. “I went out on a date with him, and I can tell you…” Nina leaned over the table and lowered her voice. “I can tell you he’s not only a good kisser, but he’s also amazing in bed. He’s…”

I put my hand up. “Don’t tell me. I don’t need the details.”

Nina laughed. “Suffice it to say that when most men exaggerate about what they have down there, Nathan doesn’t have to.”

I covered my face.

After a minute of embarrassment, I looked at Nina. “So, this means you're not going out with Quinton?”

"It means I didn’t give him an answer.”

“But you’re dating Nathan!”

“We never said we were exclusive. I’m putting Quinton off.”

“You’re trying to see if you could make him want you more, like you did with Nathan.”

“And it’s working. I’ve got an executive and an athlete. If I had a military man, I’d have the three musketeers.”

I shook my head at Nina’s antics.

“I’d still rather have what you have with Arthur, though.”

Sure. If Cathy didn’t mess it up.