Chapter 7 Appointment With The Doctor

• ARTHUR
• “Tell me again what the bride’s name is?” I asked. I heard Doris. It was just such a coincidence I needed to hear Doris tell me again.
• I couldn’t believe it. Of all the things for Doris to ask me. She wanted me to go with her to the wedding. This wedding.
• I lit a cigarette, stalling. “Sorry, I can’t promise you this.”
• “Why?”
• Doris was clearly puzzled. I couldn’t explain it to her.
• I already declined to attend my mother’s wedding multiple times. My crazy mother bashed a window of my new Maybach she was so furious. I couldn’t just change my mind.
• “Why not? It’s just one little favor?”
• “Why is it so important to you?”
• “Bob is my ex. The women at my office made a big deal about how great you are and Bob thinks I made it up. Bob cheated with Andrea while living with me…” Doris trailed off.
• I get it. God, they were both such awful people.
• Doris looked at me with pleading eyes.
• I gently caressed her cheek. I hated to turn her down.
• "Please," she whispered.
• “I’ll think about it.”
• “Thank you.” Doris peppered my face with a wonderful little kiss.
• I made my expression harsh, so she didn’t get her hopes up too much. I wanted to help her, but I didn’t like the idea.
• Of course, I would never accept that gold-digging Bob as my stepfather.
• Then I remembered the wedding day was on the same day as a tech trade fair worth a hundred million U.S. dollars.
• Fuck. I can’t tell Doris why I don’t want to go. She thinks I’m just a stripper.
• My expression that I have to turn her down must have shown on my face.
• Doris' phone rings, and she answers it. "No," she wailed. "I failed. He doesn't want to go." She hung up.
• Before I said anything else, Doris turned away and took a few fast steps like she was going to run away from me. Then a drunk man knocked her down. I rushed to her side.
• Doris started crying. “Arthur...I’m pretty useless, right? I’m such a mess, aren’t I?””
• Doris raised her head to me. Her beautiful eyes were red and swollen, and her face was covered with tears.
• I was speechless for a moment. Facing Doris like this, I was at a complete loss.
• I was good at business, finance, and negotiation. I could buy and sell a hundred companies and make millions before lunch.
• But I was no good at comforting and being comforted by a woman I cared about.
• I felt a tight pain in my sternum like I just took a hard punch to the chest.
• “What can I do for you?” I asked.
• "Thanks. You don't have to do anything... All we had was just a one-night stand. I don't want to take up your time... just leave."
• Doris tried to get up from the ground, but she was slow and clumsy from being drunk.
• I gathered her in my arms. I couldn't stand to see her like this. All the moments of my life, my mother being so abusive to me, rushed back into my mind.
• “I’ll think about the wedding. But if I go, I’m just staying for a half hour. You can show me off and then I’m leaving.”
• “Okay, okay. Thank you.”
• A silver-haired woman comes up to us. “Sir, I think you should give your girlfriend a hug.” Okay, that was weird.
• Doris nestled against my chest like a wounded animal.
• Her snot and tears got on my expensive suit jacket. I didn’t care.
• It was good, feeling like Doris depended on me.
• When she relaxed against me, it felt like some kind of miracle. A miracle I never expected or experienced before.
• We walked out of the club. When we got to the street, Doris slumped against me. She must be drunker than I thought.
• A woman ran over. “Doris! Doris!" The woman looks at me. "What did you do to her? Is she drunk?”
• “I didn’t do anything. And very drunk, I’m afraid. I’m taking her home.”
• “No. I’m taking her home. I’m Nina. I’m her best friend.”
• After I question this woman a bit to see that she’s telling the truth, I reluctantly turn Doris over to Nina’s care.
• I got into my Rolls Royce and secretly followed them to make sure they got home safely.
• Then I went home to my own penthouse.
• I was surprised that my cute little Mia was still awake, waiting for me.
• “What are you doing up, sweetie?”
• “I couldn’t sleep.”
• “Come on, baby. I’ll tuck you in.”
• I listened to her talk about her day for a bit and then I read to her from a book of her favorite English poems.
• Mia’s not my biological daughter, but she was definitely the daughter of my heart.
• Mia did not want to go to sleep. She bounced on the bed until I had to use my forceful voice with her.
• Once I finally got her tucked into bed, Mia fell asleep almost immediately. A little while later, she started tossing and turning. I heard her calling out for her mommy.
• Strangely, that made me think of Doris.
• Mia’s mother, Cathy, gave her up many years ago.
• I bet Doris would make a good mom, no a great mom.
• With that thought, I fell asleep, exhausted.
• DORIS
• I walked down the sterile hallway of the hospital. Like every time I walked this corridor, I feel guilty thinking about how Noah is in a vegetative state from saving me during that car accident five years ago.
• I refused to give up on him.
• He didn’t have anyone else.
• He might never wake up, but I had to have hope.
• When I entered his room, the sight of him lying there, hooked up to machines, made my heart ache.
• I sat by his side, holding his hand and talking to him, hoping that he could hear me.
• Lena, the nurse, burst into the room.
• "He opened his eyes a few times this morning. Just for a few seconds," she exclaimed.
• "What?"
• "He was still unconscious. But that's an amazing sign."
• I hugged Lena. I felt a rush of joy flood through my body. Maybe there was still a chance for Noah.
• Then Dr. John Enoch, Noah’s attending doctor, came in. He congratulated me on Noah’s progress.
• “Please don’t get too excited, though. This could mean Noah’s on the road to a full recovery, but it could be nothing. I’m cautiously optimistic, but I don’t want you to get your hopes up too much and be disappointed.”
• “I understand, doctor.”
• He smiled at me. “Please call me John.”
• I looked down, suddenly shy. He stepped closer to me. “I’ve been wanting to ask you out for a long time. Will you go to dinner with me?”
• Arthur popped into my mind. John was handsome, but I was so into Arthur.
• “You are such a good daughter to Noah. It shows character. Dinner tonight?”
• I want to say no. John was successful and sexy, but Arthur was on my mind. But I felt obligated to John for all the good care he was giving Noah.
• “Okay,” I said. “But I’ll pay for dinner. As a thank you.”
• “No thanks necessary. I’m just doing my job.”
• “I insist.”
• John's smile was huge.
• I got ready for dinner. I was still very surprised Dr. Enoch asked me out. He was obviously very popular in the hospital.
• We were definitely from two worlds, but agreeing to treat him to dinner was a good way to thank him.
• I put on light-pink lipstick and checked myself in the mirror. I was ready.
• Later that night, when John entered the restaurant, he looked even more handsome in his blue sweater and gray dress slacks than he did in his scrubs and white lab coat.
• We had great dinner conversation. He was charming, with a sunny disposition, and was obviously selfless in his work.
• In addition, his mother was a well-respected doctor and his father was the director of the hospital. It was clear John was a great family man.
• I should be very attracted to him.
• During the dinner, Enoch continued to express his affection for me.
• I just couldn't help to be a little hesitant.
• Also, I should ask him to the wedding. He would be a great fake boyfriend. I haven’t forgotten the strange look on Arthur’s face, and how much he didn’t want to go.
• “Is there anything I can do for you?” John asked me, but I barely heard him.
• Arthur said he could only stay at the wedding for a half hour. I should ask John. But I can’t make myself because it doesn’t seem fair.
• “Doris? Did I lose you there for a second?” John asked.
• “Sorry. I guess I’m preoccupied.”
• “About Noah?”
• “About a lot of things, actually.”
• “Is there someone else?”
• A vision of Arthur’s naked body, perfect chest muscles barely glistening in the low light of the hotel as his hard body thrust into me flooded my mind.
• My cheeks heated.
• But Arthur hadn't made any commitments to me.
• “Doris?”
• I wanted to say there wasn't anyone else. I wasn't to say I wasn't in a committed relationship. But was it really fair to John to be so distracted?
• “Doris?”
• I found myself shaking my head no, implying there was no one else.
• “Good,” John said, reaching across the table and taking my hand. “Because I really like you.”