Surprise Delivery(12)

“See that you don’t.”

In truth, I can’t promise her anything. While deaths are rare among the staff of these aid groups, it’s not like they haven’t taken casualties of their own. There have been a number of doctors and nurses who wound up dead by working in a warzone like Syria.

It happens, but – it’s rare.

“I’m proud of you, Duncan,” my mother tells me. “I don’t tell you that as often as I should, but I’m truly proud of you.”

I take her hands into mine and give them a gentle squeeze. “I only am what I am because of you and Dad,” I say.

“Nonsense,” she protests. “You’ve made yourself who and what you are. And I can’t possibly be prouder.”

“Thank you, Mom. That really means a lot to me,” I say, meaning every word of it.

“Just get your butt back here in one piece,” she says. “You have grandbabies to make me.”

We laugh together, the pall on our day together beginning to lift, if only a little.





Four





Alexis





“You look amazing,” Bri says.

“As do you, my dear,” I reply.

She laughs as we walk up the red carpet, our fancy ball gowns swishing around us. I’m wearing a dark green backless dress, with a plunging neckline and bedecked with plenty of lace. Sabrina is wearing a very similar dress, but hers is purple. My mask is a shade of green so dark, it’s almost black. It’s festooned with purple and gold jewels and feathers – befitting the masked Mardi Gras theme.

I feel like a fairy tale princess. I’ve never worn a gown as fancy – or beautiful – as this one and I can’t stop looking at myself in every reflective surface we pass. I just can’t stop staring, feeling more beautiful than I think I ever have in my life.

I’m Sabrina’s date to a fundraising gala her hospital is having. Her boyfriend also works at the hospital, so she had an extra ticket and wanted to give me a special night out. To that end, we spent the day together having brunch, then got our hair done, then got ourselves all dressed and ready. A car was sent to bring us to the gala, which only added to the whole fantasy feel of the day for me.

“Thank you for this, Bri,” I say. “This – I just can’t get over it. It’s amazing.”

“You deserve a little fun in your life,” she tells me. “And you are absolutely gorgeous, Lex.”

I hold my skirt out and spin around, giggling, feeling lighter in the heart than I have in seemingly forever.

“I have a feeling your dance card is going to be extremely full tonight,” Bri giggles, winking at me from behind her mask.

“Oh, is that why you brought me along?” I say and laugh. “Trying to hook me up with some hot doctor, huh?”

She shrugs. “Or a rich donor,” she replies, joining my laughter. “You just never know when or where you’re going to find a love connection.”

“You’re terrible,” I chide.

“You won’t be saying that if you get to hook up with some of the doctors we have on staff.”

“With some of the doctors on staff? Some?” I grin.

“As they say, variety is the spice of life.”

“You are incorrigible.”

“That’s what Dominic likes about me,” she smirks.

Dominic is her boyfriend – a resident at the hospital. They met during a procedure about three months ago and have been inseparable ever since. Those two are practically glued at the hip. Or, as much as they can be given the crazy schedule the two of them have. But, they’re really sweet together and I’m happy Bri has found somebody who treats her so well.

She plucks two glasses of champagne off the tray of a passing waiter and hands me one, then we wander around the ballroom. It’s decorated in shades of purple, green, and gold, and there’s a Cajun Zydeco band playing on stage. The ballroom is filled with the sound of music and the loud buzz of conversation, and people are already dancing out on the floor.

On the side of the stage is a giant digital thermometer that’s tracking the level of donations. At the moment, it’s about halfway up the thermometer to their goal – not bad for the party having just started a little while ago. Clearly, they have some pretty wealthy donors.

“What are all of the donations for, anyway?” I ask.

“I dunno for sure,” Bri replies. “I think they want to build a new wing and bring in some new, more advanced equipment or something.”

“Ladies,” he says smoothly, his Georgia accent dripping like Southern honey. “You both look ravishing this evening.”

“You’re not looking so bad yourself, Dom,” I say. “You clean up pretty good.”

He holds open his purple tuxedo jacket, flashing the gold cummerbund he’s wearing, and spins around for us, drawing a laugh from both Bri and I. He pulls his girlfriend to him and plants a soft kiss on her cheek. Sabrina melts into him, wrapping her arms around his waist and I feel a momentary flash of jealousy. Not jealous of what she has with Dominic, just jealous that she has somebody she feels so comfortable with and connected to.

I can’t recall the last time I felt that way towards a man. I kind of miss it. The men at work have turned me off to the idea of dating. At least for a while. They represent the worst in men to me and it’s really made me hesitant to get close to anybody, let alone open up to them. I just don’t trust anybody right now – which makes for some very lonely evenings. And that loneliness is sometimes overwhelming to me.