Chapter 28
The X Factor
Monday morning, the doctor finally came around to talk with Celia. She couldn’t wait to get out of this hospital and she was going to get her wish. The doctor said she could go home and that the staff would have release paperwork for her to sign soon. They would schedule a follow-up appointment for her in about 4 weeks. She would also need to follow-up with her Family Doctor in a couple of weeks.
Celia had some general questions for the doctor about going back to work. She didn’t tell him that she didn’t actually have a job, just that she needed to go back to work as soon as possible.
He told her that she would be in a cast for four to six weeks and possibly a boot after that for a couple of weeks. He assured her that if she could work sitting down she should be able to go back to work in two to four weeks.
She thanked him. After about ten minutes the doctor was gone, and she was waiting to sign her release papers. It would be so good to get out of this place and get home.
“Real clothes and some privacy.”
“If you want me to leave I will,” Mike said, coming in the door with flowers.
“I’m not talking about you. Are those for me? They’re beautiful. Sit them on that table over there so I don’t forget to take them with me.”
“Will do, and of course they’re for you. I saw them in the gift shop and thought they might brighten your day.”
“They have, and will continue to do so. But, the best news is, they are letting me go home! I’m guessing it will be around noon, but I can’t wait to get out of here.”
“I know what you’re saying. They come in and start poking you around five am and by the end of the day you feel like they’re starting a new blood bank with your name on it. Been there, done that.”
“Yes, that’s so true. I feel like a pin cushion, but what were you in the hospital for?”
“You name it. Broken arm, fractured leg, food poisoning, just to name the highlights.”
“None of that sounds like fun. This is my first broken anything,” Celia said, gesturing to her leg.
Mike walked around the bed and looked at her leg. “Then I’ll be handy to have around. I know all the fun things. How to shower with a cast on. How to carry a remote, beer and sandwich while walking on crutches.”
“Oh my. I never even thought about that. I’ll just use a wheelchair to get around.”
Mike smiled. “After that first week, you’ll be ready for a pair of crutches, and about the fourth week, you’ll be ready to burn them.”
“That doesn’t sound good.”
“It’s not. We’ll have to get some of those special pads for under your arms. You’ll need to learn to walk on the crutches and move your weight back and forth from one arm to the other in order not to strain anything.”
“I think it will be handy to have you around. You are staying, I hope. I never meant to sound like I was against it. I was just irritated that Martin felt the need to move out, and that he didn’t have the nerve to tell me.”
“I understand, but I’m not sure if I should stay or not. You’ll have your mother there.”
“True, but you know how huge that place is. You can have your pick of any room. I’ll be staying in the living room, I suppose. There’s a drop down step to just about every room in the house.” Celia looked up and shook her head and began to laugh.
“What is it?” Mike asked, moving closer to the side of her bed.
“I don’t know if I should laugh or cry. There is one room I could stay in. It has easy access and has it’s own private bath.”
“That sounds like a good start,” Mike said. “What’s so bad about that?”
Celia grimaced and could feel tears sting her eyes. She didn’t normally cry that much. She hoped it was the medicine and said as much. “I’m normally not some weepy woman who cries at the drop of a hat.”
“It’s okay. I can take a few tears.”
“Thanks. I think, I hope it’s just the pills. I don’t want to be that pathetic woman who falls apart every time she thinks about her ex and the woman he has now. I want to spit on her, curse and go on.”
Mike laughed, and she looked at him. “I don’t see you spitting on anyone; you’re too refined for that.”
She smiled and he really seemed to mean it. That made her feel better and she managed to stop the tears from coming this time. “Back to the room I was talking about. It’s the room that Randi stayed in.”
“Ouch.” Mike rested his hands on the bed rail.
“Yes. Ouch. You may not know, but I’m the one who insisted on hiring a live-in maid. I’m also the one who put Martin in charge of making sure all the maids got to the house and knew what they were supposed to do. All of this is my fault.” She held back the tears and went on. “No! It’s not my fault. It’s Martin’s fault. He just couldn’t keep his hands to himself. That lying, cheating—.” She stopped and sighed. “When will the sting leave?”
“Normally, it takes a while. The last time I was dumped, it took me a couple of months before I stopped wanting to look up the new guy and give him a piece of my mind.”
“Someone dumped you?” Celia looked at Mike. She found that hard to believe, but then again, he didn’t have a lot of money though he was quite handsome.
“Yes, more than once, sadly.”
“What did you do?”
“I put my mind into work. I started dating anything in a skirt but it didn’t take me long to see that was the wrong move. I slowed down, stopped caring if I was with anyone or not, and before I knew it, I was over that money hungry----.”
Celia could see a smile creeping in at the corners of his mouth. He was trying to make her laugh, and it worked. She smiled. “Are you really over it?”
“The X factor? Yes, very much so. But if you tell anyone that I was talking about my love life, I’ll deny it.”
She laughed and leaned back, trying not to yawn. “What is it with men that they can’t talk about how they feel? Just let it out and don’t worry about what people think.”
“I think it’s just not in men to really talk things out. Some women have a way of getting a man to open up, but then if you aren’t careful, you’ll say more than you meant to.”