Reservations of the Heart Page 2

  “I would have gotten away with it if she hadn’t sent them out. It took me hours to shave off pieces with a razor to get enough fuzz to fill in the holes. That was an epic party the weekend before I left for college.” Rosie’s eyes glazed over with nostalgia.

  “I wouldn’t know. I was at Grandma’s.”

  “You were just a baby. Besides, you weren’t the partying type. You preferred having your nose in a book.” She let out a puff of air. “Now that you’re older and getting older by the day, I just don’t want you to wake up in ten years with regrets about being alone. I truly believe there’s someone for you. But you have to look.”

  Stella placed a hand on her sister’s arm. “Trust me. I’m happy with my life. I love my career. I have the best daughter. And, as much as it pains me to admit this, I have the most supportive and funny sister. My life is perfect.”

  Chapter Two

  “Oh my God, Aurora. What’s wrong?” Becky, in a retro 1977 Star Wars T-shirt and cotton pajama bottoms, rose from the battered couch and went to her best friend and roommate.

  Aurora collapsed into Becky’s arms. “My life as I know it is over.”

  “Come on. Sit down.” Becky, almost a head taller than Aurora, steered them to the couch. “Does this conversation need alcohol?”

  Aurora burst into tears.

  “Tears already. Beer won’t cut it. How about tequila?”

  Aurora wiped her eyes with a tissue she’d snagged from the Kleenex box on the coffee table from the previous night’s viewing of Moulin Rouge. “No, not after last time.”

  “Oh, I know.” Becky snapped her fingers. “Whiskey. That fixes everything or does a mind erase so you can’t remember why you were upset. Either way works.” She zipped into the kitchen, which was less than ten feet away. While gathering two mismatched tumblers, Becky asked over her shoulder, “What happened?”

  “I don’t even know how to put it into words.” Aurora sucked in a breath, let it out, and repeated the action to try to gather her wits.

  Becky opted to bring the bottle. Sitting on the couch, she twisted off the cap and poured two healthy portions from the primo whiskey one of her clients had given her last year for Christmas. “Start off slowly.”

  “My dad… nnn-not dad,” Aurora stuttered in a shaky breath and tossed back half the glass.

  Becky blinked. “Okay. Try using more words.”

  Aurora set her glass on the coffee table, collapsed back into the seat, and tossed her arms over her head. “He’s not my dad, Becks.”

  “How is your dad not your dad?” Becky covered her mouth. “Oh, did your mom have an affair with the mailman or something?”

  “The mailman?” Aurora’s voice crescendoed.

  “Oh no! I was only teasing. Honest.” Becky’s face drained of all color.

  “She didn’t have an affair!”

  “But how is your dad not your dad? Was she married before or got knocked up and your dad married her to save her good name? He’s the kind of man who would do that.” Becky nodded in a decisive way, indicating that was the only explanation.

  “You need to stop watching so many made-for-TV romances or whatever. They’re seriously warping your brain.”

  “I’m sorry. Accountant, remember. I like things to have simple explanations. Two plus two is four.” Becky repositioned, with her back against the arm of the couch, and sat cross-legged facing Aurora. “Walk me through it.”

  “Okay.” Aurora’s eyes darted to the ceiling. “It’s weird to talk about, but here goes. When my parents wanted to start a family, they couldn’t get pregnant. They had to use a sperm donor…” Aurora couldn’t state the rest.

  Becky didn’t speak for several seconds. “Is that all?”

  “What do you mean is that all? All my life, I thought he was my dad.”

  “He is. He’s more of a father than mine, who left mom and me when I was three.” Becky splashed more whiskey into her glass.

  Aurora sighed. “I know that, but it’s weird to learn at the age of twenty-nine. To find out he’s not—”

  “It doesn’t mean he doesn’t love you,” Becky rushed out. There was opinionated, and then there was Becky.

  “I never said he didn’t. I don’t know how to explain how I’m feeling to you. I know you have daddy issues.”

  “Not really. You have to have a father to have those issues.” Becky stated the words with venom.

  “Uh, I’m not sure what to say after—”

  “We’re not talking about me. Let’s get back to you.” Becky sipped her drink as if needing a second to regroup. “I understand why the news would be upsetting and it’ll take time to set in, but how is your life over? That seems a bit dramatic, even for you.”

  “Don’t you see? The two people who raised me have been lying to me my whole life. I feel it here.” Aurora clutched her floral blouse over her breast. “How can I trust anyone if my own parents kept this from me?”

  Becky’s brow crumpled. “How’d you find out anyway? Did they just decide to tell you?”

  “I went to his doctor’s appointment to find out if he needs a kidney transplant—”

  “Does he?”

  Aurora shook her head. “They’re starting him on dialysis, but the doctor says he’s a good candidate for a transplant if need be.”

  “Wow. That’s heavy. And that’s the moment they revealed this secret to you?” Becky’s upper body slumped.

  “No. When I heard the news, I offered to donate mine because I thought I’d be a match.”

  “Let me see if I’m following everything now. Your dad may need a kidney, and you found out his swimmers didn’t really swim, meaning you can’t donate.” Becky let out a tiny whistle.

  “And I just started my temp job today. Rather, I spent the morning in a training program and then met some of the people I’ll be working with. But, with this… family stuff, I feel like calling and saying I just don’t have the headspace for this temp job when everything around me is tumbling down.”

  Becky refilled their glasses. “You can’t quit. Aren’t you the one who said this could be your way in at the medical school? You’ve wanted to be a nurse your entire life.”

  “Not anymore.”

  “No!” Becky held up a stop right there hand. “Don’t let one bad teacher in high school discourage you from pursuing your dream.”

  “Mr. Huff called me an idiot in front of the entire class.”

  “He called everyone idiots. And need I remind you he taught geometry? He has zero clue what it takes to be a nurse. Mr. Huff was a bitter old man who never married and took his revenge out on anyone in his path, especially bright and beautiful young women.”

  “He never called you an idiot. No one has. You’re twenty-nine going on sixty when it comes to life choices. Everyone always seeks your opinion.”

  “Only when it comes to finances. I’m a math geek. I would like to add, though, that if you’re correct that everyone wants my opinion, you should listen to me about nursing school and everything else for that matter.”

  “I don’t want to talk about nursing school. Not right now.” Aurora took a belt of whiskey. “Let’s talk about something happy to get my mind off everything. How’s the wedding planning?”

  Becky blew her bangs out of her eyes. “I don’t know why Nate and I didn’t decide to elope. So much for being the wise one.”

  “It would have been easier for all of us.”

  “Have you found a date yet?” Becky’s eyes narrowed.

  “Uh, did you not hear about my day? How was I supposed to find a date while dealing with… everything?”

  “Okay. Putting a pin in it for now, but don’t you think all of this would be easier to handle if you had a girlfriend to go home to?”

  “I have you.” Aurora patted Becky’s thigh.

  “I’m getting married in the spring. Nathan will have completed his PhD and will be back in Boston. You need a plan, Aurora. Either get a girlfriend, or start looking for someon
e to pay half the rent here. The months will fly by, and you have a tendency to put off unpleasant tasks.”

  “I can’t stomach the idea of living with a stranger. We’ve been roommates since college. And, no way do I want a girlfriend. Will you be off-limits for when my life crashes and burns? It happens on a regular basis for me.”

  “I know. Of course, I’ll be there for you, but it’s different when you’re dating someone.” Becky tugged her shirt away from her chest, their older than dirt window A/C unit not doing much to combat the heat.

  “Dating is so last century. Study after study shows women are better off alone. Besides, men just want women who remind them of their mommies who they can fuck and who’ll also cook and clean for them.” Aurora emphatically raised a fist to hammer this point home.

  “That’s disturbing, and news flash—you dig chicks.”

  “Exactly. I love women, who can be, well,”—Aurora motioned to her emotional state—“hot messes.”

  “I’m not.”

  “You’re also straight and getting married. Although, you’ve been getting your panties in a bunch about my dateless state for your wedding since you got engaged, so there’s an argument you’re just as unbalanced as the rest of the female species.”

  “You try balancing the pressure of work, a long-distance relationship, and planning a wedding. But you’re trying to distract me. Do you plan to stay celibate?” Becky raised a thin, dark eyebrow.

  “Fuck no. I love sex. I plan to have lots of sex, just not a relationship. Know any women who are only interested in being fuck buddies? Commitment is a hoax forced upon society by religious nuts. No one can stay faithful to one person for their whole life. Not with all the options on the table.” Aurora made a sweeping motion with her hand.

  “You do know I’m getting married, considering you asked me how the wedding plans are going and you’re going to be my maid of honor?”

  Aurora backtracked quickly. “You and Nathan are different. You two are perfect for each other.”

  “I’d almost given up, and now I’m getting married. There’s someone out there for you, too.”

  Aurora shook her head. “No. I used to think there was, but after today, I know it’s not in the cards for me. My entire life has been a lie.”

  “Oh, please. I know the news is a big deal, and it’ll take time to adjust, but don’t forget the big picture. Your parents adore you. I used to wish I was their daughter.” There was wistfulness in Becky’s eyes.

  “They lied, Becks.” Aurora drew in a sharp intake of air.

  “When? Did you ever ask if half of your DNA actually came from your father?”

  “I didn’t think I had to!” Aurora slapped a palm on her thigh.

  “And what about kids who are adopted? Do you think they aren’t loved by their adoptive parents?”

  Aurora’s head snapped up. “Does this mean I was adopted in some way?”

  “No!”

  “I think in some way it does.” Aurora slouched down and swallowed more whiskey.

  “How’s your dad doing? With everything?” Becky asked.

  “He’s staying strong for Mom and me. As much as he can. He’s always so exhausted and barely leaves their apartment.”

  “Is he being added to the list, then? If he needs a new kidney?”

  Aurora sniffed. “It’s being considered. They have to run more tests, and there’s the complication that others who are worse off are already in line. Hence why I wanted to give him one of mine.”

  Becky pulled Aurora against her. “Everything’s going to be okay, you know. No matter what, Aurora Borealis, he’s your dad. He loves you, and you love him.”

  “Why didn’t they tell me, though?”

  “Have you asked them?”

  “I—I was in shock about everything.”

  “Do they know you’re upset?” Becky smoothed Aurora’s hair.

  “Of course, but I didn’t want to make a big deal about it. Not after learning my dad is starting dialysis and may need a transplant.”

  “Do you think maybe you’re more upset than you may have been because of the magnitude of everything? It’s been a difficult few years with your dad’s illness.”

  “Maybe. But, I can’t get it out of my head that everything I thought I knew about myself isn’t true.”

  Chapter Three

  After getting off at the Hynes subway stop, Stella elected to walk down Massachusetts Avenue instead of taking the dreaded bus that was perpetually late, smelly, and overcrowded. She needed to clear her head from the previous night, even though she’d only had one margarita, while Rosie had demolished three. Of course, Rosie didn’t have to teach her first class until tonight, allowing her plenty of time to put herself back together. Rosie was a pro at tearing herself up and banishing the ill effects of a hangover in record time. And dinner with Stella was one of Rosie’s new semester rituals. Tying on one last doozy before getting back to the grind. During the semester, she’d limit herself to one small glass of wine per evening just to take the edge off until winter break, when she’d head back to the Caribbean to cut loose and recoup.

  Stella had always been the moderate one in all things. Hence why one drink left her mind fuzzy at best. The walk would do her some good, and it’d make up for Stella skipping her run home the previous night. Not to mention, Stella loved traversing the quaint tree-lined side streets with brownstone apartment buildings and brick sidewalks. Back in the day, when she was still married, she’d lived in one. Now, just her ex and child resided in their apartment with a small garden out front enclosed by a black iron gate.

  Twenty minutes later, she stepped into her office at seven on the dot, not too much later than normal, but she had a packed day so perhaps the stroll down memory lane hadn’t been the wisest choice.

  Mia knocked on the door one minute after the hour, not allowing Stella to tidy up her emails before hitting the ground running until the end of the work day.

  Half past nine, her desk phone rang. “Dr. Gilbert.”

  “Stella, we have a problem with Dr. Howie.” It was Vera, Dean Andrews’s assistant.

  Stella stifled a groan. “He’s only been on staff for a few weeks. How do we already have a problem?”

  “He doesn’t like the classroom he’s been assigned and wants to change to one he happened upon during orientation.”

  Stella reached for her squeeze ball, which was a silly blue dog that her daughter, Kenzie, had given her for Christmas last year. “That involves me how?”

  “My schedule is packed today.” Vera spoke the words as if the world would cease to rotate if she stopped whatever it was she did all day. “Can you personally go to the Scheduling office to plead Dr. Howie’s case?”

  “You can’t be serious.”

  “I am. This is part of your new role as course manager to liaison between the hospital and school. That includes scheduling. I’m certain Dean Andrews explained this to you.”

  “Nope. I would have remembered, considering it’s no secret that department is one of the worst run branches on campus and I rather perform a lobotomy on myself than speak to anyone there. Can my admin—?”

  “Scheduling listens better to people in white coats.” Vera supplied the details of the assigned room and the room change request. “I hope you got all that. I gotta run.”

  There was a click on the line.

  Stella tapped the receiver against her forehead before replacing it on the base. “I hate that woman.”

  She exited her office and hung a left, walking down the characterless but pristine hallway, making her way to the bridge on the second floor that connected the hospital to the campus building where the majority of classes were held. She nodded to a few doctors on the way, not stopping. Not that she was expected to since everyone was just as harried.

  In the stairwell of the instructional building, she climbed to the fifth floor on the far side of the building. Perhaps it was the dean’s way of protecting everyone else from Schedulin
g hell. The department was responsible for making room reservations for classes, student organizations, special events, and other campus-wide activities for the medical and dental school, in addition to the school of public health. Moreover, it coordinated all AV and lab requests. Every professor had had at least one run-in with Scheduling that left a sour taste in their mouth.

  The door to E507 was propped open, and Stella marched in, doing her best to look like she wasn’t a woman to be trifled with.

  Sitting at the front desk was a woman she’d never seen before. Stella would have remembered the woman’s dark roast expresso eyes and hair almost the same color falling in waves to her shoulder.

  “Good morning,” the woman said in a pleasing tone.

  “Morning. Where’s Winnie?”

  “Who’s Winnie?”

  “Isn’t she the boss here?” Stella peered at the three empty workstations right behind the front desk.

  “Oh! I think I remember Shelly saying Winnie had quit or something recently. Shelly’s in charge as far as I know. But I’m new, so…” The woman let out an adorable nervous giggle.

  Stella had to stop staring into the woman’s entrancing eyes and focus on the task at hand. “Okay. What about Shelly? Is she nearby?”

  “Running late, I’m afraid. Something about a smashup on Route Two.”

  Stella checked the time on her watch. “You’re new, and you’re here all alone?”

  “Seems so. Shelly had security open the door for me when I arrived. And she was able to talk me through getting logged into the computer. I’ve temped in many offices, but so far, this has been different. Kind of a toss you into the deep end and see if you survive mentality.” The woman let out another nervous bout of laughter.

  “I see. Maybe I should come back then.” Stella sighed, not liking the idea of leaving and having to deal with the wrath of Vera later if the matter wasn’t resolved soon. Vera was the type who expected everything to get done last week.