Contract for love, p.4
Contract for Love, page 4
While he sorted through the files, the nurse asked, “Do you need me for anything?”
“No, thank you, Abby.”
After the nurse had left the room, the doctor stepped up to the treatment table. “Good evening, Ms. Miller. Ms. Fielding.”
He knew the mad woman?
Ms. Fielding barely paid him any attention. “Good evening.”
He faced Sherry. “I’m Doctor Bennet.”
“Nice to meet you, sir.”
The doctor tilted his head slightly as if wondering about her reply. Then he smiled at Jake, who had opened his eyes again and was struggling to sit up.
Sherry helped him.
“Hello, Jake,” Doctor Bennet said.
Jake frowned. He probably thought the same as Sherry. Doctors usually rushed in, checked his throat and ears, listened to his chest, and then wrote up a prescription without giving any indication they knew he had a name.
“Hello,” Jake squeaked.
The doctor took Jake’s hand in his. “It’s very nice to meet you.” Slowly, he let go. “Want to tell me what’s bothering you?”
“I…” Jake cleared his throat. But when he spoke, his voice was still hoarse. “My throat is hurting.”
“Ah, that doesn’t sound so good. And you’ve also got quite a fever.” The doctor patted Jake’s shoulder. “But I’m sure we can make it better.” He got a tongue depressor out of a cabinet. “Would you open your mouth, please? As far as you can. And please say ‘ah.’”
“Ahhh!”
Doctor Bennet inserted the depressor and used a flashlight to inspect Jake’s throat. “Great job, Jake.”
Sherry looked over to Ms. Fielding, who was standing much too close for her liking and was beaming at her. Instinctively, Sherry took a step away.
“Thank you, Jake.” The doctor turned to Sherry. “I want to inspect him more thoroughly, but as far as I can tell, this seems like a clear case of tonsillitis.”
Sherry nodded. “I was afraid you’d say that. He gets it every few months. But the antibiotics don’t seem to work anymore.”
“Have you ever been advised to get Jake’s tonsils removed?”
“Well, sure. He’s on the waiting list, but they told us it would be a while until it’s his turn.” Sherry rubbed her temple. If she wasn’t such a loser in life, Jake wouldn’t have to suffer so much.
Ms. Fielding rolled her eyes at the doctor. “Ignore her.” To Sherry, she said, “Honey, I told you already that I’m gonna pay for this. As long as our little one is taken care of.” Ms. Fielding’s gaze drilled into her as if she wanted to burn a hole into Sherry’s head.
Honey? Our little one?
Ms. Fielding raised her arm as if she wanted to lay it over Sherry’s shoulder but seemed to think better of it because she let it fall to her side like a log.
Was this supposed to be a bad joke? If she refused to join in, would this mean that Jake wouldn’t be taken care of? God, I wish I knew what’s going on.
Before Sherry could decide what to do, Doctor Bennet asked, “Does Jake suffer from any serious sicknesses or allergies we should know about?”
Sherry shook her head. “His tonsils become infected every now and then, and he gets a cold easily, but that’s it. No allergies I know of.”
“Has his heart been checked out in the past?”
“His heart?” Her own started beating faster. “No, why?”
Dr. Bennet gave her a smile that probably was supposed to calm her down but failed miserably. “Just a precaution. I would like to keep Jake here to run some tests. And if you agree, we would like to give him an antibiotic to help reduce the infection. As soon as the infection is down, I’d like to get his tonsils removed for good.”
This sounded like a dream. But it was just that: a dream. She would never be able to afford such treatment.
Jake tried to smile at her, but his face contorted into a painful grimace instead.
As much as she wished she could agree, Sherry had no idea what this woman wanted her to do in exchange. And judging from Ms. Fielding’s arrogant smile, she had a feeling she didn’t want to find out.
She took a deep breath. “I think I can’t do th—”
“Honey, could I talk to you for a second?” Ms. Fielding asked. “Outside,” she hissed.
Why not? It couldn’t hurt to find out what this was all about. After all, this wasn’t about her; this was about Jake. “Okay.”
Ms. Fielding addressed the doctor. “Go ahead. We’ll be right back.”
The doctor nodded.
Ms. Fielding grabbed Sherry’s arm and pulled her toward the door.
Sherry broke free of her grip and hurried back to Jake. She took his chin between thumb and forefinger. “I’ll be just outside.”
“Okay, Mom,” Jake croaked out.
It took all her will to let go of him, kiss his forehead, and follow Ms. Fielding out of the room.
When both were standing in the hall and Ms. Fielding had closed the door, Sherry folded her arms in front of her chest. She wasn’t dumb. What this woman offered was sure to have its price. “What do you want for helping Jake?”
Ms. Fielding smiled. It seemed fake like the smile people in showbiz often sported. “I’ve got a job for you. A rather unusual job, but it’s well paid.”
“Is it illegal?” She wouldn’t work as a hooker or drug courier. Sherry would do almost anything for Jake, but she would never give him a reason to be ashamed of his mother.
“No, nothing illegal.”
Sherry regarded the woman in front of her. She wasn’t wearing makeup, and she didn’t need any to be attractive. Her unusually straight posture and her arrogant expression made her stand out in a crowd. What could a woman like her want from someone like Sherry?
As if she’d read her mind, Ms. Fielding said, “I want to hire you to play my girlfriend.”
Huh?
Ms. Fielding shifted her weight. “By girlfriend, I mean fake partner.”
“What?”
Some people walking by glanced over. Had she spoken too loudly?
“I’m gay.”
Somewhere during this weird conversation, Ms. Fielding had lost her. It had to be the lack of sleep or her empty stomach, the latter choosing that moment to protest once more. Sherry held her belly, but it didn’t help to silence it.
Ignoring the noise, Ms. Fielding said, “As part of the deal, you’ll get to live in a nice place, have the best medical treatment money can buy, and while you work for me, I’ll pay you…let’s say two thousand dollars a week.”
This had to be a joke. A really bad one. “Why do you need someone to pretend to be your girlfriend?” If Ms. Fielding was serious—and as much as she tried to, she couldn’t quite believe that—why did she want Sherry for the job?
Ms. Fielding was obviously rich and good-looking. It couldn’t be that hard to find somebody better suited for this job.
Again, Ms. Fielding answered the question Sherry hadn’t voiced. “I don’t want a relationship. But it’s very important for me that…” She paused until a nurse had passed them. Stepping closer, she continued more quietly, “There is somebody in my family who has to believe that I’m in a bor…in a solid relationship. This person has to think I have a family.” At the last word, she grimaced as if she had bitten on a lemon.
“I don’t understand.”
“There’s nothing to understand. You pretend to be my girlfriend and tell everybody what a great partner I am. End of story.”
“But why me?”
“Why not?”
Was this woman trying to be difficult, or was that her normal state? “Why me?” she asked again.
Ms. Fielding shrugged. “I saw you at the diner.”
“That’s it? You saw me and decided to ask me of all people?”
“Yup.” She leaned casually against the wall. “So?”
Was she dreaming? If so, the jury was still out as to whether it was a good dream or a bad one. But if Ms. Fielding was serious about her offer, Jake would be taken care of. “I still don’t get it. You want me to—?”
The door opened, and the doctor came out. “That’s it for now. Aside from the tonsillitis, Jake seems to be fine. I gave him something for the pain and the fever. The nurse will come along in a moment so that you can sign some paperwork and get him into his room.”
“Can I stay with him?”
“Of course,” Doctor Bennet said. “The room should have a pull-out couch. You can use that, or we can bring in a second bed. Whatever you prefer.”
Her mouth fell open. Never in a thousand years would she have thought something like this was possible for someone like her. She took Doctor Bennet’s hand. “Thank you, Doctor. Thank you so much.”
“You’re welcome.” He withdrew his hand, gave Ms. Fielding a nod, and walked up to Nurse Tayler, who had just rounded the corner. After a short exchange, she came toward them.
Sherry turned to Ms. Fielding. “About your offer—”
“Time to bring Jake to his room, it seems,” Nurse Tayler said with a smile.
When the nurse went to see to Jake, Ms. Fielding leaned over to Sherry. “Not now.” While they stepped into the treatment room, Ms. Fielding put one hand on the small of Sherry’s back.
Sherry flinched but otherwise ignored the invasive touch. For now.
Jake sat with hanging shoulders on the treatment table, but his lips formed a weak smile. “The doctor was very nice.”
Sherry’s eyes burned. It was all too much. The worry about Jake, Ms. Fielding’s crazy offer, the amazing treatment Jake was getting… She swallowed against the lump in her throat. She never had and never would cry in front of him. “That’s nice, baby.” She was about to pick him up when the nurse touched her arm. “I have a wheelchair here, ma’am.”
“Oh.” Sherry let go of Jake, caressed his flushed cheek, and stepped back.
Nurse Tayler helped Jake into the wheelchair before pushing him out of the room. The fact that he didn’t complain showed how exhausted he was.
Sherry and Ms. Fielding fell into step behind Nurse Tayler. It was surreal. This stranger was walking with them as if she were part of their family. And that’s exactly what she wants everybody to believe. The thought made her queasy. It was just wrong. “What if I don’t do it?” she whispered.
“Not here, dammit. We can talk about it in a second. When we’re alone.”
Sherry had no choice but to nod.
When the elevator opened, the smell of disinfectant and something else she couldn’t identify hit Madison like a punch in the face. Memories of the last time she’d been in this hospital, on a floor exactly like this one, crashed over her like a wave. The bleeping of machines, the pale face of her mother, distorted in pain, and her clammy hand holding Madison’s much smaller one.
“Ms. Fielding?”
The nurse’s voice pulled Madison back to the here and now. Everybody but her had left the elevator.
Two big steps and she stood in the hall before the doors could close.
“There we are.” The nurse entered a room and switched the light on.
Sherry’s big eyes seemed to pop out of her head. “Th…that is Jake’s room?”
“Um, yes, ma’am.”
“What… How much does it cost?”
“Honey, I told you already that I’ll pay for it.” What was her problem? To the nurse, Madison said, “Do you need my information for the bill?”
“If you would be so kind. You can do it on your way out at the nursing station. We will pass the information to administration for you.”
Madison nodded. Actually, it would be ridiculous if they charged her anything at all considering how much her family had donated to this hospital over the decades.
Sherry helped the boy into bed. Afterward, she pulled off his shoes and placed them beside the nightstand. “I haven’t brought his pajamas. Usually, they send us home.”
Jeez, would this never end? Madison spun toward the nurse. “Do you have something for him to wear?”
“I could bring him a hospital gown.”
“Thank you,” Sherry said. “I’ll head home in a minute. It’ll do for the moment.”
“Mom, I don’t wanna wear a gown. Only girls wear gowns.”
It seemed that the boy was feeling better, because until now, he hadn’t said a thing, for which Madison was grateful. She would probably get along with him just fine if his complaining now was an exception.
“Baby, it’s only until I’m back with your pajamas. Want me to help you change?”
“I can do that,” the nurse said.
“Mom,” the boy whined. “I’m old enough. I can do it by myself.”
His hanging shoulders, scratchy voice, and glassy eyes said something else.
Madison bit her lip so she wouldn’t tell him to shut up as she had been told as a kid. Okay, her grandmother had never actually said to shut up. Instead, she had always told her to be quiet so that nobody would know how dumb she was.
Sherry stroked some hair out of her son’s face. “Of course you can do it alone. But…you know”—she bent closer to him—“Nurse Tayler might get in trouble if she doesn’t help you. It’s her job after all.”
The boy squinted between his mother and the smiling nurse.
“You don’t want that, do you?” Sherry asked.
The boy shook his head. “No, Mom.”
Sherry smiled and gave him a kiss on the forehead.
Huh. Madison hadn’t seen that coming.
“Mom?”
“Yeah, baby?”
The boy pulled her closer and pointed in Madison’s direction. “Who’s that woman?”
Sherry whispered something into his ear that made him nod.
Madison looked at her watch. It was almost nine. She should have been on her way to the club already to meet the guys, not standing around like a fool and letting a little boy call her “that woman.” If they didn’t speed things up, she wouldn’t arrive at the club before the guys were already sauced.
“Will you be fine here for a while?” Sherry asked her son. “I’ll drive back home to get us some clothes for the night.”
The kid seemed exhausted from the entire ruckus and just nodded.
Sherry had turned away when the boy said, “Can I have my Spiderman pajamas?”
“We’ll see.”
“The main entrance is closed for visitors,” the nurse said. “I’ll tell the guys on security to expect you.”
“Thank you,” Sherry said. “That’s very kind of you. I’ll hurry up.”
The nurse sent her a friendly smile and took a blood pressure cuff from a shelf to wrap it around the boy’s arm.
“I’ll be right back.” Sherry caressed her son’s sweaty bangs and straightened toward Madison. “Okay, let’s talk outside.”
Sherry had barely closed the door when she whirled around, coming face to face with Ms. Fielding. “What happens to Jake if I don’t agree to help you?”
With one hand casually placed in her pants pocket, Ms. Fielding leaned against the wall. Then, as if to display how relaxed she was, she folded one foot over the other. “Why not ask me what happens if you agree? Money wouldn’t be an issue for you anymore and the boy would be taken care of.”
She couldn’t imagine such a scenario if she tried. And the fact that Ms. Fielding hadn’t answered her question made her hackles rise.
“As you already know, I don’t have much money, Ms. Fielding. But I’m an upright and honest person. It’ll take a while, but I’ll pay you back.”
Ms. Fielding pushed away from the wall and stepped up to her. Close—much too close for Sherry’s liking—she paused and studied Sherry with an expressionless face. Abruptly, she looked away.
Goose bumps ran down her spine, the same way it had earlier with Andy. Had that really been just a few hours ago?
“You’ve got no idea what the medical bill will be. Even if you take him with you right now, it would probably take you years to pay me back based on your tiny waitress paycheck.” With a short laugh bare of any humor, Ms. Fielding added, “But you can go back to the waiting room when his fever rises again. Maybe you’d see a newbie doctor by dawn if you’re lucky.”
The room started spinning. Sherry raised a hand to hold on to something. Anything. But there was nothing.
She lost her equilibrium and felt her legs crumbling.
But she didn’t fall.
Ms. Fielding grabbed her waist with both hands, and for a split second, Sherry could have sworn she saw genuine worry in her eyes, but it was gone before she could be sure.
Sherry held on to the wall. “You can let go. I’m fine. Thanks.”
Ms. Fielding took a step back. “What’s wrong? Are you diabetic?”
“No. No, but I could use some sugar, I guess.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Nothing.”
Ms. Fielding kept staring at her.
“I just haven’t eaten in a while is all.”
“What is in a while?”
“Does it matter?”
“It does if we’re supposed to know things about each other. If you collapse every two hours if you don’t eat, I—”
“This morning around half past six, before I went to work.”
Ms. Fielding furrowed her brow. “Oh, c’mon, you’ve got to be kidding?”
Slowly, so as not to feel dizzy again, Sherry shook her head.
“Don’t tell me the diner opens up that early.”
“No. I also work at a grocery store. My shift at the diner starts later.”
The wrinkles in Ms. Fielding’s forehead deepened. “You’re telling me you work two jobs and still can’t take care of your son but want to say no to my offer?”
“I don’t know you and—”
