Chapter Twenty-Eight
Lexa
Work had been hectic, but I managed to keep my head in the game. Considering I was on thin ice with Dr. Rob, it was a good thing. He hadn’t mentioned going out again since Aiden’s call, and I was still kicking myself for the response I’d given him and Aiden’s reaction.
I’d only been on break for five minutes when the next emergency came in, and since we were short-handed, I had to go back to work. This was after already missing break once before, but patients don’t wait to see if you’re all done with your power bar before having a problem.
So far, I’d dealt with a fishhook removal, two severed limbs, and a man that had been jolted with enough electricity to cook one of his fingers. I’d had the usual patients, the type we get every day, too — men passing kidney stones and women in premature labor, or the panicked mother bringing her baby in for a simple cough. There had been three heart attacks and many bumps and bruises, and finally, when it was time to catch a moment, more trouble walked through the door.
“Flowers for a special lady.” It was Aiden. He’d found me on my way from the break room carrying a bright bouquet of roses. My heart sank. I didn’t know whether to run into his arms or run the other way.
“Aiden, you shouldn’t have.” I glanced around to see one of my coworkers and her next patient smiling and giving nods of approval. I pulled him to an unused triage room and left the door open. “I’m sorry I haven’t had a moment to call.”
“Yeah, I see it’s been crazy here. The front lobby is packed. But I’ve been missing you. I wanted to come give you these, let you know I’ve been thinking about you, and ask if you want to come by tonight.”
“I have dinner at my parents’ house tonight.” I thought I’d explained that already, but with my brain in a fog these days there was no telling.
“Oh, that’s right. How about I take the three of you to dinner? We could go to Soto’s. I’d like to meet them, unless you think it’s too soon for that.” He was the sweetest thing, and it broke my heart.
It also terrified me. He couldn’t meet my parents. That would happen soon enough.
“It’s not the best time for that. My mother doesn’t even know I’m dating someone, much less in a relationship.” It wasn’t a lie, and it seemed to bother him, so I felt the need to explain. “I’ve been so busy I haven’t talked to them, but I planned on telling them tonight.” Another truth — but not exactly the whole truth. This was getting awkward.
“It’s okay. Could you come by after?”
“I’ll call you, but fair warning, I’m already beat.” He reached out and stroked my arm, his hand taking mine. He pulled it to his lips and kissed it.
“You could sleep in my bed. You’ve already told me how comfortable it is, and I know you sleep well in it.” He searched my eyes, and I wanted so badly to promise I’d be there, but I left it on a maybe.
“I’ll call you. Thanks for the flowers.” I saw his head spin around as a deep voice sounded down the hall. It was Dr. Rob coming out of the ER, and he rounded the corner so fast, he didn’t see either of us.
“Is that him?” Aiden glared down the hall.
“Aiden.” I gave him a warning glare, and he shrugged.
“I only wondered what he looked like. It’s not like I’m going to break his hands or anything, I’m only keeping an eye on the competition.” He smirked and then leaned in and pressed his mouth to mine. He tasted of mint candy, and I pulled away, wondering what a mess I was.
“He’s not competition.” I released a long breath, and he brushed his hand across my cheek.
“I’m only kidding. Call me. I’m going to head out to the office for a bit.”
“You’re going into the office again?” I wondered if there was more news in the case, if my parents had done something else.
“Yeah, I’m getting back in practice. I’ll be taking over my father’s office, so I hope you don’t mind trading your doctor in for a lawyer.” I let out a sigh, and he chuckled. “I’m only kidding.”
I gave him a nudge and then a kiss goodbye. As he walked away, I hoped it wasn’t the last one. It was always that way with him, never knowing if the other shoe would fall and things would be over before I’d see him again.
I got off work a half hour late, but I wanted to prove to Dr. Rob that I was back on my game. I’d helped him stitch up a poor kid who’d gotten his leg caught on a fence. The gash had been awfully close to ruining the kid’s chances of ever being a father, so he’d gotten lucky, despite the twenty stitches.
I drove to my parents’ house and wished Bre would come back. Who could blame her for not wanting to? After the little blow up, she hadn’t been back for dinner and my mother hadn’t even so much as asked about her.
I went into the house with little welcome and found both Mom and Dad already sitting at the table despite my call that I’d be late.
“Sorry to keep you waiting.” I lowered myself into my chair and unfolded the napkin to place it in my lap as Dad swallowed a bite of food.
“Work must be picking up.” My mother had never grasped the concept of how busy my job was. I sometimes wondered if she even understood that it never really slowed down in an emergency room. I imaged she thought I was walking room to room taking temperatures and pumping blood pressure cuffs wearing a red and white striped dress with a little apron and hat.
“Yeah, it was very busy today.” I wouldn’t gross her out with the details of blood and needles, especially since we were having lasagna. I scooped a hearty serving on my plate and took a slice of garlic bread and bit it. The bread was still warm, and the butter was smooth against my tongue.
“You’ll be sure to take off Monday for court,” Mother reminded. “It’s very important, so before you try to argue, I need you to realize that.”
My father’s fork clanked against his plate. “Dear, we talked about keeping the conversation civil at the dinner table. This should be a neutral ground to share our lives and our opinions with healthy discussion. If Alexandra has something to say, the least we could do is listen if we want the same respect.”
I wondered if he’d be so agreeable when it came to my being with Aiden Walker. He hadn’t ever been too keen on Mother’s pushing me to date, but if he knew about Aiden, his opinion would be the only one that would matter.
“Well, the hearing is happening, no matter her opinion.” Mother’s voice was sharp as she had a death grip on her fork. “Especially now that Mr. Walker has requested the recording. I’d like to see his smug face when sees his father in that pilot’s seat. No black box is going to dispute our evidence.”
“Video?” My parents exchanged a glance.
“Our investigator found a video file in Shawn’s phone. Mr. Walker was bragging about his piloting experience and talked the pilot into letting him take over.” My heart thrummed wildly in my chest. All I could focus on was the fact that there was a video of my brother’s final moments. My next thought was how the proof could ruin Aiden.
“So you’re absolutely sure it was Mr. Walker’s fault?” They were going to win this case. I sank back in my chair and let the bite of lasagna fall from my fork. I’d suddenly lost my appetite. “And, Aiden hasn’t seen this video yet?”
My father shook his head. “No, I’m sure it will come as a shock.” He seemed almost sympathetic, but continued eating.
“Since we’re talking calmly about all of this, I’d like to pose a question to you. Have you thought for a minute, knowing that I disagree, what it’s been like for that man? I still think this is wrong. He didn’t do anything.”
“Again, darling, we’re not suing him. We’re suing the estate. Would it be any better if there were no heirs? If this man wasn’t around to see what his father’s irresponsibility had caused?”
“He’d be ashamed of his father. I’m sure of it. But why should we compromise his future?” My mother’s laughter chimed across the table.
“Oh, Alexandra. We’re merely putting a dent in his wealth. The man is worth far more than we’re asking. Besides, he has the rest of his life to make it back. His father’s estate is probably earning that much in interest alone over a five-year period.”
I didn’t think it was as easy as all that. Aiden had gone back to work, sure, but there was more going on that had him stressing. He was worried about losing his home.
“What if the tables were turned? What if I was left with nothing but your estate and someone came along trying to take even a small part of it? Say it was all your fault, too; how would you like that?”
My father pushed himself back from the table and sat as if contemplating leaving, but he stayed put, glaring at my mother as if I’d posed the question to only her. I had a feeling they’d had this conversation before.
“That’s not the situation we’re in.” My father’s voice was a surprise as I’d expected to hear from my mother instead.
The silence drew out, and I couldn’t help but think that I was fighting a losing battle. Neither were going to budge. But I didn’t have to be around to witness it. Besides, if there was a way to get out of being at the courthouse, then Aiden wouldn’t have to see me there. He wouldn’t learn that I was a traitor as well as a liar.
“I’m not going to be there.” I pushed my plate aside; the barely eaten food had already begun to go cold and the small portion I’d eaten threatened to vacate the premises.
“Excuse me?” My mother’s tone was sharp enough to cut glass, and a growl of frustration bubbled from my father’s throat.
“You have to be there, Lexa. If you’re needed, it could delay the entire process. You will be there if I have to have a judge order it. So, I’d advise you to reconsider.” Dad’s hard eyes were penetrating as they held me in my seat. I couldn’t move, I was so angry.
“If my opinion is asked, I’m going to speak it. And just so we’re clear on how things are going to go down, if you do this, if you drag that poor man to court over that accident, the accident that took his entire family, then you can consider yourself childless.”
My mother’s hand clutched her neck, and my father’s angry stare went blank. “You don’t mean that. Your father and I are all you have now that Shawn’s gone. Think carefully of your words. If they were designed to hurt, then congratulations. You know damned well how hard it was to lose Shawn.”
“Yes, and I can imagine Aiden Walker has had to deal with that grief times three.” I pushed back my chair, and it dragged across the tile making an unpleasant noise as I stood. “So if you keep this up, you can mourn me, too. I’d rather have no parents at all, than parents I’m ashamed of.”
As I walked out, I turned around and gave them one last thought to chew on. “When you’re counting your money — the money you destroyed another person’s life to have — look around. Shawn will still be dead, and no amount of money is going to bring him back.”