“Thanks for hosting dinner. It’s been hectic and I haven’t had a chance to tidy the house.” Charity smiled. She was overjoyed that someone else was doing the cooking, even if it was take-out.
“Ditto.” Elijah sat by his mother, Jamie bouncing on his knee. “Jamie agrees, too. Don’t you, Peanut?”
“Ya, ya. Gamma and Pop! More sushi pease.” Jamie smiled in her new pink outfit Margaret had brought from New Zealand.
The five sat at her father’s place all gathered together for dinner. There was no mention of where Margaret would be staying, but the subject was bound to come up eventually.
Scott Thompson passed the tray with the California rolls on it to Elijah. “I’m anxious to hear how work at Pinnacle is coming along, Charity. You left medicine so you could avoid crazy hours. There was a massive accident. We could have used your skillful hands today.” He smiled. “I hope you’re finding it manageable in that respect.”
Elijah squeezed Charity’s thigh under the table. He realized that her career was a touchy subject when brought up by her father.
“Work’s fine, Dad.” Charity ignored his digging comment. She knew he didn’t mean it to sound harsh, he just didn’t know how to deal with things not going the way he wanted. “I’m able to work from home sixty percent of the time. Lets me hang with Jamie more.”
“Is it a whole new kind of job?” Margaret asked.
“It’s different than being on the hospital floor working. If you’re referring to my residence. However, the work kind of comes second nature to me because I’ve done this sort of thing before. Right now, it involves Saint Luke’s Hospital and their capital campaign. They have come upon a huge donation that’s conditional upon their raising matching funds.” She turned to her dad, “You’ve probably read about it because it’s gotten a ton of press.”
“So, you’ve quit being a doctor in our hospital to compete against us for funds?” her father asked flatly.
Charity began to squirm as she started dissecting her Hosomaki. She wanted to snap a comment back but bit her tongue. Jamie didn’t need to hear her argue with her Poppy.
Elijah knew it was his signal to change the subject fast. “You must be exhausted, Mum. The jet lag from New Zealand is a killer.”
“For the past week I’ve been living on your time. I gradually bring myself around and a few Ambien don’t hurt.” Margaret smiled, looking completely fine and not tired at all. “However, I was wondering what the plans were for my sleeping arrangements.”
“Good, good,” Elijah said and nodded. “What’s your plan? I sense you’ve already planned it out.”
Margaret took a sip of her red wine. “Scott and I were talking about this the other night. Since the two of you are quite busy and I’m here to see my adorable little grandchild,” she said and smiled at Jamie. “I figured I can be a floater.”
“Floater?” Charity asked. Did she plan on spending every other night at their house?
“I decided—I thought—that on the weekends when Charity’s off, I’ll stay here with Scott and during the week, I can stay with you. I don’t want to be a burden to anyone full-time. In fact, I’ll be in sunny Florida for a couple of days to meet up with Haunch.”
From the look on his face, Scott Thompson was not aware of who Haunch was. He didn’t look impressed.
Charity pressed her lips tight, holding in a giggle. This would make for an interesting couple of months, possibly entertaining as well. “Why don’t you relax for a few days at our house? We’ve redone the room over the garage as a sort of mother-in-law’s suite for lack of a better term. It has been minimally decorated so if you get the urge, you’re welcome to make it your own.” Charity put another California roll on Jamie’s plate.
Margaret beamed. She had an eye for design and loved taking charge, of anything. “Jamie and I can go shopping! What a nice surprise.”
Elijah chuckled. “That’ll be a sight. I’m not sure you can keep up with the little speed demon.”
Margaret stared down at her son. “I hope you’re not referring to my age. Haunch and I have been on rough terrain day hikes with people in their twenties. We always lead the pack.”
The awkward look appeared on Scott’s face again at the mention of Haunch. He was obviously figuring out that Haunch was a male person of interest for Margaret.
“What’s for dessert?” Charity felt sorry for her dad. He wasn’t always the easiest but she loved him and wished she’d thought to mention Haunch to him before Margaret had arrived.
Scott stood quickly and headed into the kitchen, returning a moment later with a decadent chocolate cake. Jamie’s eyes popped and everyone else at the table looked disappointed, if not completely pissed off. Charity and Elijah had been through so much with Dr. Thompson’s heart attack. Margaret showed her concern as well because the fat, calories and sugar were irresistible.
“Seriously, Dad? You’re a freakin’ doctor and you know how bad that cake is for you,” Charity said firmly.
“Don’t hound me, Charity.” Her father purposely cut a large piece for himself. “I can take care of myself just fine. I’m not fat.”
“I know you aren’t.” Charity stared at him in dismay. “It’s the clogged arteries that can fit that shit through their tiny, weak holes.”
“Earmuffs, Momma.”
Charity shot a glance at Jamie.
“Yeah, earmuffs,” her father repeated.
Charity stood. “All of us here are concerned with you not having a second heart attack. Some of us don’t want to lose their only remaining parent.” She watched her father take a large bite before offering Jamie one. Charity stood. “Excuse me.” She headed up the stairs to the bathroom. She stared at her reflection in the mirror and burst into silly tears. A chocolate cake was not going to cause a massive coronary at the dinner table, but it represented something that pissed her off. Her father, the great Dr. Scott Thompson didn’t care enough about his family to try like hell to prevent himself from dying. Selfish bastard.
Elijah peered his head through the half closed door. “You sure do know how to make a statement Charity.” He came up behind her, wrapped his arms around her tiny waist, and kissed her neck. “Look at you. Even with tears streaming down your face you’re beautiful. Just let it go about your dad. Give him a break tonight.” Elijah kissed her neck and pushed his hips against hers.
“Seriously, Elijah?” She could feel him harden against her glute. Her body betrayed her and warmed at the thought. “We are not going to get it on in my father’s bathroom with our parents and child below us. As tempting as it is, it’s way inappropriate.”
“Since when has that stopped you?” Elijah pulled at her linen pants and coral thong and soon they were around her ankles. He unzipped his black jeans. He was ready to penetrate his wife when the door cracked open.
“Mommy and Daddy! Found you!” Jamie shoved the door open all the way and stood in the doorway covered in chocolate.
Margaret showed up behind Jamie.
Charity and Elijah had acted fast and managed to pull up their pants, hopefully before Margaret saw them.
“You’re speedy, Miss Jamie Lynn.” Margaret laughed and scooped her up. “Let’s let Mommy and Daddy finish what they started.” Margaret winked and carried Jamie back into the dining room.
Elijah laughed as Charity covered her eyes.
“That did NOT just happen!” She shook her head, her cheeks burning with embarrassment. “We were just about to have sex in my father’s bathroom!” She whispered the words, as if they were taboo. “To make it worse, your mother and our daughter walked in on us! Then Margaret winked! What the hell was that about?”
“Earmuffs.” Elijah laughed and kissed her neck. “We’re married and have a child together so obviously we aren’t virgins. I think the cat’s out of the bag on that one. Margaret and Scott have probably already christened this room anyways.”
“Elijah – Ick! Now I have visions of my father as a sexual being that I won’t be able to get out of my mind. There is no way our parents have ever had sex and if they did, it certainly wasn’t in this bathroom.”
Elijah took a seat on the toilet as if it were an easy chair. He smiled. “Why do you think he had a heart attack on our wedding?”
“I’m going to throw up. Seriously.” She started laughing.
“Mission accomplished!” Elijah clapped his hands. “You’ve ceased to be upset about chocolate cake.”
She stared at her husband. “I love you, even if you are nuts.”
Elijah grinned as he stood. “That’s my girl.” He gently used his hip to move her over so he could stand in front of the sink. “I thoroughly enjoy this type of rendezvous. The excitement of being caught is an aphrodisiac.” Elijah splashed cold water on his face.
“Aphrodisiac – since when do you need one of those?”