Chapter 4

 

Adam watched Ivy cross the street to where he was. She was wearing her jogging clothes, and he wondered if she had already been out or she was headed for a run after this. When she smiled as she sat down, Adam could have gladly danced a jig around the room.

“I’m sorry I’m late.” Adam told her that he’d not noticed. “I’m sure you’ve been sitting here thinking that I stood you up. But I got sidetracked before leaving my room, and I just finally had to hang up so that I could get out in time to meet you. What are you having?”

Adam laughed while she placed her order first. She was a good hearty eater, but you’d not think that to look at her. She was slim, tall, and toned. After ordering his own breakfast, he took her hand into his.

“It was your boss again, wasn’t it?” She nodded and polished off a large glass of grapefruit juice and asked for another. “What was she doing this time? Begging you to come home again?”

“Lily doesn’t beg. She just assumes that you’re going to do what she wants with everything. I never have, so I’m not sure why she thinks this will work on me. But now that I’m nearing the end of my vacation time, I’ve decided to see if your brother will let me be a partner with him in his practice. I don’t want you to ask him—I’m not fishing for you to do that. But I would like to know if you think he’d partner with me.”

“I’m sure that he’ll drop to his knees and beg you to come work with him. He was telling me a few weeks ago that he hated having to send patients to the bigger hospital in Columbus. Evan is one of those doctors that loves to be a part of the lives of the people that he sees. Not nosey, but I think he could name every baby he has delivered and each patient that has died while in his care. Which, you might want to know, is very few.”

“I thought that too. I love that he’s put that big pin board up with all the babies that he’s brought into the world. He has a great deal of pride when he shows it off.” Adam watched her face as she talked about Evan and what he had accomplished since moving back home again. “I don’t think he would have been able to do that working for someone else. He told me a little about why he moved back home.”

“Yes. I think he did it more for Dad than he did anyone else. Then once he was here, I think he realized how much he hated working so far away. And Grandda has come out of his funk since we’ve all bought houses and are putting down roots to stay nearby. Mom loves that, especially.” Ivy told him that she’d not known her grandparents since they were both gone before she’d been born. “I miss my grandma every day. She was the rock in this family. Not that my mom wasn’t too. But we all knew that Grandma was the one that ran the roost, so to speak.”

Their breakfast came just as he was telling her about his house. It was a place of memories for him, and an accomplishment too. “The kitchen was redone just before my grandma passed away. She really loved to cook, but especially bake. Her cookie jars weren’t just for show, but they were always full of some kind of treat.” Ivy buttered a fresh hot biscuit as he spoke. “We have nine bedrooms. That was a lot even back when Grandda had the house built. None of us, when we were younger, would have missed out on a chance to spend the night with them. It was wonderful because they spoiled us just enough.”

“Nine bedrooms? Sheesh, you’re not planning on me filling them all, I hope.” He nearly choked on his tea when she laughed too. “I’ve been giving things around my life a lot of thought since last night. I want to be your mate, but I don’t want you to rush me into sex. I’m not very good at it anyway.”

“Why would you say that?” She shrugged, and he smiled. “Oh no, you’re not getting off that easily. Tell me why you think that you’re not any good at sex. Because if someone else told you that, they need to be shot. Just looking at you makes me hard.”

He’d not meant to say that to her, and she was just as surprised if the way her spoon was paused before reaching her mouth was any indication. When she put down the utensil, he told her that he was sorry. She nodded before speaking again.

“I’m not good at it. I mean, yes, I’ve been told that from a couple of lovers that I had. I was too boring. Or selfish, and that one surprised me. I was only selfish because the guy was finished way before I was even close.” Her face brightened up with embarrassment. “I can’t believe I’m telling you this.”

“It’s all right. But if you’d share the guy’s name that said that to you, I can go and teach him a few manners.” She laughed, and he joined her. Ivy clearly believed what had been said to her. “I promise not to rush you into making love with me. But I’m not promising that I won’t want to touch you, to be with you as closely as I can. You mean the world to me, Ivy, even though we’ve only known each other for a few days.”

Picking up her fork again, she played with the sausage gravy that was smothering the fluffiest biscuits he’d ever eaten. Of course Adam would never tell his mom that. Hers were delicious too, but there was something about Milly’s that made his mouth water just thinking about them.

“I don’t know what I’m doing. I mean, whenever I’m near you, I feel so calmed by you. I don’t feel like I’m failing at life. I know that I should be on top of the world—being a doctor is all I ever wanted. But it hasn’t been that fulfilling for a long time. I think coming here with my sister, even under false pretenses, was the best thing I needed. For myself.” She looked at him and he could see the worry in her eyes. “If your brother doesn’t agree with taking me on, I am seriously thinking of quitting what I’m doing. I never realized how much I wasn’t happy with my work until Evan showed me how much he loved what he was doing.”

“At one time, Evan was like you are now—torn between coming home to live out the rest of his days or going to a job that didn’t do anything for him. Evan spoke to me about it before Dylan came into his life. He was right where you are now, indecisive as well as bored.” He took her hand. “I don’t think you have to worry about him not wanting to work with you. All he’s talked about since you two were in surgery together is how much he admired you and what you did.”

Adam reached for his brother and told him what was going on with Ivy. Evan was so quiet for a while that Adam was sure that he’d been someplace where he couldn’t reach him. But he asked where they were right now.

If you’re coming here just to talk to her, you’re going to mess up the progress that I’ve made with having her trust me. I mean, she’s not begging for me to ask you—in fact, she said not to. But I think that she needs this as much as you did at one time. Evan said that he was coming in for breakfast with Dylan, and that would be his cover. Good. And remember, I didn’t speak to you at all. All right? I don’t want her not to trust me.

This would be the only time I think you should do this, going behind her back. I understand what you’re doing now, I do, but don’t make a habit of it. Women are pretty nasty when they think that you’re trying to take over their lives. Not that you are, but she might think that. Adam asked if he’d done that to Dylan. Yes. Just the one time, and never again. I promised her.

Evan and Dylan were arguing when they came into the place. It was an ongoing tiff with them that Dylan hated bacon—liked the smell but didn’t care for the taste of it. Evan didn’t really care for it either, but he wanted to make Dylan pissy for some reason. Adam thought that his brothers were all saps in the way they treated their mates and wondered if he’d do the same thing. Adam turned and looked at Ivy and realized that he was already being a sap. Who knew that it could feel so good to be labeled as such?

Dylan stomped off and came and sat at their table. Adam laughed. She was holding in her laughter, and Adam realized that she was making Evan pissy for the same reason. As soon as she sat down with Ivy, Evan had him crushed against the window by sitting with him.

“She is driving me nuts.” Ivy laughed at Evan and he smiled at her. “You’re up bright and early. I hope you weren’t called last night. As far as I thought, it was a quiet night.”

“It was. I’m usually up by this time anyway since I run about five miles before I allow myself to shower.” Dylan asked her why she did something so strenuous first thing in the morning. “It loosens me up. Burns off whatever stress I might have going on and such.” Ivy looked at Adam. “Sometimes the stressors aren’t anything but my own mind making things look a great deal worse than they really are.”

Adam knew that she was talking to him, but what she meant was nothing he understood. But before Adam could ask her, Evan and Dylan ordered their food while continuing to argue over the bacon issue. It wasn’t until they were all served that Evan started talking to Ivy.

“How much longer do you have on your vacation? I mean, it can’t be that much longer, is it?” Ivy told him that she’d not decided as yet. “I don’t understand. Are you planning to not go back home? Because if that’s your plan, I would love to talk to you about being partners. You have no idea how much I’ve enjoyed having you around and having someone to help with surgeries as well as patient calls. I’d gladly sign a partnership with you today.”

“I’m not sure.” She played with her food without looking at anyone. “I’m already on the schedule at the other hospital. In fact, she has put me on it for tomorrow. I still have two weeks left, but Lily doesn’t like to be told no. Or she simply thinks that I’m going to drop everything and come running back by blackmailing me with patients dying. Or that is what she is going to tell those that need me.”

“She needs to have the shit knocked out of her.”

Adam had to agree with Dylan. The woman had been calling the B&B so much that he’d asked to have the calls forwarded to their home. And from there, they were put off by the staff. Nate had enjoyed, just a little too much, telling the woman that Ivy wasn’t home. Then this morning when she’d gotten up to leave, a courier had brought a certified letter to the B&B where Ivy and Meghan had been staying.

“I really don’t think that I want to go back. But I have a feeling that things are not going to be that much better here.” Adam asked her why not. “I don’t know what to do about the two of us. I mean, I really like being with you, and your family. But I’m still trying to think about what I’m supposed to do with everything else.”

“There isn’t anything that we can’t deal with here or there.” Adam told her that he’d go with her, no matter where it was, if she’d only say the word. “I cannot be without you, Ivy. You’re my life. And as much as I’d like to tell you that I’d rather not move from my family, I don’t want to leave you twice that much.”

“You see, that’s not helping me.” He grinned at her. “You’re not as charming as you think when you do that.”

“They all do it. I think it’s something that they learned from Ollie. He’s a charmer from way back.” Ivy smiled at Dylan when she reached for the last biscuit in the basket. “I’m to understand that you’ve hired a staff. It’s about time, if you ask me. That house is much too large for you to wipe up after yourself. By the way, I heard that you guys had furniture now. Thank God. I hated that chair with the nasty spring. I think that I could use it as a torture method. I think I could get some good intel by using it.”

No more was said about the partnership. Adam knew that she was thinking hard on it. He was proud of Evan for not being his usual pushy self. He supposed that Dylan had told him what to do. Adam thought that he’d do the same—wait for her to bring it up again and let her make the decision. But this thing with Lily was going to stop soon. She was stressing out Ivy too much.

“Did you read over the letter that came from Mercy Hospital?” Ivy nodded and handed it to him. He hadn’t looked at it—without her trusting him, he’d not do that to her. Instead of reading it over, like was his intent, Dylan asked for it and he gave it to her. “Nate said that she calls the house no less than five or six times a day. What makes her think that all this that she’s doing to you is going to help you in your decision?”

“I have no idea. It’s not like it’s worked before. And you should hear her bitch and complain when I have to go to another hospital to work. You’d think that I was her kid and had run away from home. Then there is the added pain in the ass about her crying when she doesn’t get her way.” Dylan laid the letter down and looked at Ivy before speaking. “What is it?”

“You can sue her.” Ivy asked her how she’d come to that conclusion. “Well, first of all, she’s harassing you. Not just by her wanting you to cut your earned vacation short, but she’s calling your household several times a day. I’d have Nate keep track of the future calls with times and dates in the future. From there, I have an attorney that can make her wish that she’d held up her end of the bargain.”

“I’m game.” Adam was surprised that Ivy had given in so quickly. She must have really been stressing about this. “What is it I have to do?”

“You let me make a few phone calls and I can have it taken care of.” Ivy asked her if this was because they wanted her to work for them and Dylan smiled. “You’re scary when you look like that. I’m sure you know that, but I’m almost afraid to find out what your plan is.”

“No, I’d do this anyway. I love making people piss themselves. Also, and this is the real kicker, she is going to owe you an apology—a big one—when I’m finished with her.” Ivy said that if she could make this go away, then she’d stay. “That’s really not why I’m doing this.”

“I know. There is something else you should be aware of. I have two more years left on my contract with the hospital. Then I’m sort of a free agent. Do you think you could get that off my back as well?” Dylan didn’t answer verbally, but she did smile. “Thanks. And I’m serious, if you can get me out of the contract as well as get Lily off my back, I’m here to stay.”

Adam would take what he could with this. Ivy was staying because of the offer of help with her boss. He could have been pissy, he supposed, pointing out that he had promised her the world. But he didn’t. She was staying, and that, to him, was the most important thing.

~*~

Adrian was glad to be doing this for his family. He’d only just taken a few refresher courses to fatten his package when it was time for the voters this fall. And it would help him a great deal if he was to make it as president. Adrian knew that he had a long way to go with his plan, but he was happier more to be helping Ivy. She had taken a great deal of his heart since being here.

When he was called into the office of the president of the hospital, Adrian went in with his notes all in line, Dylan standing by if he needed her, as well as having witness facts to go with the rest of what he was doing. Taking a seat when it was offered, Adrian wasn’t the least bit surprised to see that there was more than just the president. It looked as if the entire board was there. Adrian didn’t waste any time and got right to why he was there.

“Lilian Jane Donaldson has been harassing my client, who is also to be my sister-in-law soon. Here you will find the number of calls that she’s made to her home. There are couriers coming by their home almost daily as well, trying to blackmail her into coming back to work.” He handed the list to each man, glad now that he’d taken the time to make copies of what he had. “Doctor Ivy Walton applied for her vacation time within the parameters of the agreement that she has with this hospital. Giving notification of her time away from work, Ivy—Dr. Walton—had it all approved to be away for several weeks. It just so happened that she met my brother and decided to give her notice to coincide with her vacation time, giving plenty of time for a replacement to be found.”

He watched as each man looked through the things that he’d given them. They were quiet for the most part, leaning in to talk to each other. Adrian had a feeling that they’d not known of this development, nor the fact that their biggest moneymaker had had to resort to bringing in a lawyer to take care of her troubles.

“Ivy has been a great asset to this hospital. Her revenue alone has made it so that we could run a highly rated facility.” Adrian said nothing, not even to smile at them when he knew that Lily hadn’t shared any of Ivy’s issues with the board. “If you don’t mind me asking, why did she not come and talk to us? I think we could’ve worked something out. We’d even be willing to give her an increase in her pay. And more vacation time.”

“It is well past that, I’m afraid. As you can see by the attachments to the first sheet of grievances against Miss Donaldson, several other doctors, as well as nurses, have left because of run-ins with her. Several doctors that I’ve spoken with were told that going to the board, above Miss Donaldson’s head, would result in lost overtime. Nor would their insurance be paid and written write ups would be filed on small infractions that did not warrant them. Actions that were not only made up, but unlikely to have been done by any of the doctors.”

Adrian handed them each some of the things that he’d found in files on the doctors. Not only were their names there to accompany them, but also the doctors’ signatures and phone numbers, in the event that they’d like to get in touch with them.

Hey, I just found out some juicy information that might seal the deal on this broad. Little Miss Lily has been taking the bonuses for all the doctors. Not only that, but anytime there’s an award dinner or a yearly meet and greet, she’s made sure that none of them are able to attend. And barring that, she’s kept it from them so that she could take all the kudos when they were given to them. Adrian asked Sunny how she’d found this out. You don’t want to know. But suffice it to say, the shit is going to hit the fan in about ten minutes. I’ve had it explained to the few doctors that are left here, which is way less than they had when Ivy was working. They are, needless to say, pretty pissed off about it.

Are you telling me that they’re on their way here? Sunny laughed. Christ, this is going to be epic. I’m glad that I got to be a part of this. Ivy will be hanging around now, and Adam will be able to be with us. I have to tell you, Sunny, I was terrified that they were going to move away.

Me too. I really like her. She’s all soft and mushy about some stuff, but a real bear when it comes to things being right and equal. I’m going to have so much fun with her when they’re married. She laughed. I’m hoping they bond soon. I sort of feel sorry for your brother.

Yeah, I do as well. But he is doing what he thinks is right with her. She strikes me as someone that hides her emotions inside, and when it blows over, someone will be picking up the pieces for a very long time. And her feelings for Adam, I think, are terrifying her. Something that she’s never felt before, and it’s taking over. Sunny said that’s what she’d thought as well. Hmm. Sunny, they’re here.

It had never occurred to him that his grandda was part of the board at this hospital too. His mom and dad were on the one at home, but he’d never thought to even ask about this one in Columbus. His grandda was leading the pack, so to speak, when about a dozen men and women came into the room.

“What’s the meaning of this, Mr. Whitfield? You show up now, with these people, instead of sitting with the board? I won’t have it.” Grandda sat down and winked at Adrian before turning to the four men in the room. “Mr. Whitfield, can you please tell me what this is all about?”

“I can. I can. But I think these people are going to tell you in their own words. There is some nasty stuff going on around here, and they’re here to let you know just how disappointed they are in the lot of you.” The eldest man stood up then sat down when Grandda snapped at him to do so. “You’ve been mighty negligent around here, Bob. You’ve went and lost you about the best there is in the surgical field, not counting my grandson. And on top of that, these people here have been deprived of their money and awards. That woman, Miss Lily, has made a mess of things, and now, since you didn’t step in when you should have, you’re about to see the back end of the turkey as it goes over the fence when it comes to keeping this place running.”

“Mr. Whitfield, we’ve only been made aware of this today.” Grandda told him that he was a liar and he should have noticed that they were losing doctors and other staff right and left. “We assumed that things were going well. No one came to us about any of this.”

“As he said, you are a liar.” The doctor that was standing next to the wall handed Adrian several pieces of paper. “You’ll see there that not only have I made several complaints about lost wages, no pay raises, as well as lost vacation time, I’ve emailed the board and sent out notices of the way things are headed. And all to no avail. You’ll also find in those papers my resignation. I can’t work under these conditions. And I don’t think any of us will.”

The table was flooded with unfinished paperwork that had been due weeks after the man had demanded someone else do it—resignations. Notices of strikes, as well as disciplinary actions taken against the employees that were not just untrue but unfounded as well. Adrian just sat back and let the men hang themselves. There was just too much evidence on what had been right under their noses. His cell phone was ringing just as the second man in line began telling them what he’d been putting up with. It was Henry Cobb.

“Are you trying to kick me to the curb before my time here is up?” Adrian laughed when he did. “You’ve done a good job with this. This is going to be another feather in your cap when this comes out in the paper. And there isn’t any way for them to shove this under the rug now.”

“They’re claiming that they’d not known anything about this. But that’s been quashed. The men and women here have a long list of shit that has been going on. And for some time, it seems like.” Henry asked him what he thought they were going to do now. “Grandda is here. He seems to think that this place will shut down soon. At least that’s what he’s saying to the men I’ve been talking to.”

The fourth man was handing the board paperwork, his voice was deep with anger. Also, the loss of wages, which was what it was since Lily had taken it from them, was the least of their problems. Apparently, Lily had never put in for vacation for some of them, and they were still waiting to get paid for it—had been for the last several years.

“I’m sending you some help. Not that I think you’re going to need it, but I’m sending you a financial attorney that has all the amounts owed to each of them in that hospital. As well as those that have left because of Lily.” There was a long pause. Adrian waited while Henry spoke to someone in his office. “Adrian, I want you to remain calm for a bit. Apparently, more things against Miss Lily have been turned up.”

He asked what it was, but Henry was laughing too hard to tell him. When he told him he’d talk to him later, Henry just laughed more. Whatever was going down, it wasn’t going to help keep this place open.

When the door behind them was banged against the wall, Adrian as well as the others stood up. Christ, he was really in a shitstorm here. Adrian thought it was just as funny as Henry had when he became a part of the meeting with him.